Cochrane resident Brian Hosack, 21, is facing nine charges after allegedly kidnapping a man and leading police on a chase from St. Albert to Edmonton.
St. Albert RCMP officers responded May 26 to a report of a man being held against his will in a green 2008 Hyundai. When the vehicle was located with Hosack behind the wheel, Hosack fled, striking a police cruiser before taking off towards Edmonton.
“Officers located the suspect vehicle near the intersection of St. Albert Trail and McKenney Avenue in St. Albert, where they activated their emergency equipment to stop the car,” stated a news release from St. Albert RCMP. “The suspect vehicle struck an unmarked police vehicle that had its emergency lights activated and was attempting to assist in the traffic stop.”
The ensuing pursuit, which involved St. Albert RCMP, Edmonton Police Service and Air One, led to the RE/MAX field in Edmonton, where Hosack came to a dead end. He was then arrested without further incident, according to police.
Cpl. Laurel Kading, a spokesperson with the St. Albert RCMP, said the kidnapping victim suffered minor injuries but was released once Hosack was taken into custody. The RCMP officer who was in the damaged police vehicle also suffered minor injuries, as did Hosack.
"[It is] very unusual but concerning to us that someone would take that kind of measure to avoid being stopped by the police," she said. “As soon as a person is not stopping, we consider it a pursuit. The person was not following speed laws, for sure."
Hosack was charged June 11 with forcible confinement, flight from a peace officer, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, failing to stop after an accident, assault with a weapon, assault of a police officer with a weapon, possession of a weapon dangerous to the public, uttering threats and mischief to private property.
He will make his first court appearance June 24, in St. Albert Provincial Court.
Kading said Hosack and the victim knew each other and the kidnapping was not a random incident. Although police are not releasing the age of the victim, Kading said he was not a child.
–With files from the St. Albert Gazette and the Cochrane Eagle
