RCMP has located and arrested a Lethbridge man who drove into a police car twice and injured an officer.
On April 1 at about 7:30 p.m., an RCMP officer with the Beiseker detachment stopped a Ford F-350 truck for speeding through the Town of Irricana.
After the officer stopped the vehicle, the truck immediately reversed, and struck the police car causing significant front-end damage.
The truck attempted to flee the area and the officer followed the vehicle. The truck stopped and as the police officer exited the car, the truck reversed from a significant distance and rammed the vehicle a second time causing the car to be disabled.
The RCMP member was able to avoid being hit by the truck and hopped into the police car before it was struck. The Ford F-350 truck then fled the scene. The RCMP member was transported to the hospital in Calgary where he was treated for minor injuries and released.
The license plate on the Ford truck was stolen from a business in Redcliff, Alta. The white Ford F-350 was reported stolen on March 30 from Perdue, Sask.
On April 3, RCMP received a tip from the public indicating that the suspect Tyler Darrell Leeder, 26, may be in Rocky Mountain House.
RCMP officers located the white Ford F-350 at a hotel. A 17-year-old girl, who was listed in the Canadian Police Information Centre as missing, was apprehended without incident outside of the hotel, near the truck, and removed from the scene. The area around the hotel room was secured with local police resources.
Leeder was believed to be armed and in the hotel room. The RCMP Emergency Response Team, the RCMP helicopter, and RCMP police service dogs were called to assist in the apprehension of Leeder. Upon arrival in Rocky Mountain House, the Emergency Response Team negotiators were able to speak with Leeder, and convince him to surrender just before 1 a.m. on April 4.
No member of the public, or police force were injured in this incident.
Leeder is currently in custody in Rocky Mountain House. He will be returned to prison on the parole violation, and to await further court appearances for prior armed robbery offenses.
On March 29, the Airdrie RCMP was dispatched to a break and enter at a residence in Luxstone.
The complainant reported that the culprits entered an unlocked vehicle, and used the garage door opener to gain entry into the garage. The offenders then entered the house while the family was sleeping. Several electronic devices were stolen along with the keys for the vehicle. The culprits then stole the vehicle. It was later located in a nearby alley.
There was a similar set of circumstances on March 29, where the suspects entered an unlocked vehicle, removed keys and attempted to enter the residence while the occupants slept. The key that was used on the front door was broken off in the lock and the culprits were unable to gain entry.
The RCMP would like to remind people in the community to:
• lock your vehicle doors and secure vehicle windows
• do not leave any valuables in your vehicle, including garage door openers
• lock the doors inside your garage that lead to your residence
• park your vehicle in a well lit area if you are unable to park in a garage or driveway
On March 8, Shoppers Drug Mart staff reported several women who stole perfumes and ran out of the store, located at 989 Yankee Valley Boulevard. The thieves stuffed merchandise into purses and left.
Upon exiting the store, the thieves got into a beige late 1990s Dodge Caravan. The women travelled eastbound on Yankee Valley Boulevard and then northbound onto East Lake Boulevard.
If you have information on any unsolved crime, call the Airdrie RCMP at 403-945-7200 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
