Two suspects were arrested after ramming a police car on Highway 2 near Carstairs, April 8.
Police laid 10 charges, including impaired driving, hit and run and assault against a peace officer with a weapon, against Calgary resident Ralph Franson, 37, and four charges including robbery and assault of a police officer of Edmonton resident Justin Franson, 22.
A sheriff with Airdrie Integrated Traffic Unit responded to a complaint of an erratic driver at around 5:20 p.m. The vehicle, a blue Ford truck, was speeding northbound on Highway 2 when the sheriff attempted to pull it over.
The driver swerved at the sheriff’s vehicle, sending it careening off the road and into the cable barrier that divides the north and southbound lanes of the highway.
The suspects then fled the scene, before their vehicle broke down on a nearby range road.
A passing Good Samaritan stopped to assist and was assaulted by the men who then stole his truck and fled again.
RCMP units from surrounding areas, a Calgary Police HAWCS helicopter and an RCMP service dog were assisted in searching for the suspects.
The second stolen truck was found crashed into the ditch and the two suspects were arrested.
Both suspects are known to police and charges are pending.
A man arrested for driving within minutes of receiving a court-ordered driving prohibition on Jan. 11 has been sentenced to 45 days in jail.
Calgary resident James Jess, 51, appeared in Airdrie Provincial Court on April 4 and was also given a one-year driving prohibition.
On Jan. 11, Jess appeared at Airdrie Provincial Court, where he pled guilty to impaired driving and was sentenced to a two-year, Canada-wide driving prohibition in relation to an incident that took place Nov. 18, 2011.
On that day, the RCMP received calls from several concerned motorists who reported a truck drifting from one lane to another at various speeds travelling southbound on Highway 2 near the Crossfield overpass.
Three officers were dispatched to intercept the truck and with the assistance of the 911 callers were able to stop the vehicle on Highway 2, just south of Airdrie.
Jess, who was driving the vehicle, was arrested on the scene and later charged with impaired driving after breath samples showed his blood alcohol level was more than three times the legal limit.
On Jan. 11, Jess surrendered his driver’s license to the court.
After his court appearance, Jess got into his vehicle and tried to drive home. Jess was intercepted by officers who noticed his vehicle parked near the courthouse.
If you have information on any crime, contact your local RCMP detachment.
