Three people charged after semi-truck stolen from Edmonton, carjacking attempted: RCMP

Three people are facing 31 charges after police stopped a stolen semi-truck with a spike belt just outside Edmonton last week.

During the arrest, police seized six government IDs, 13 grams of crystal meth and tools used for breaking and entering.

On Jan. 30 at roughly 1:30 a.m., police said a Peterbilt semi-truck was stolen from Edmonton and was later discovered near Vegreville around 8 a.m.

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RCMP officers were dispatched to the area where they located the semi-truck and attempted to stop it, but it fled from police, RCMP said in a Wednesday release.

Due to safety concerns, RCMP officers didn’t chase the semi-truck, but with the help of an RCMP helicopter, they tracked the semi-truck as it drove through the towns of Lamont, Bruderheim and Chipman before officers were able to deploy a spike belt.

After the semi drove over the spike belt, it stopped, and the driver immediately attempted to carjack another vehicle, but officers were able to intervene and arrest the driver, according to police.

The other two occupants of the semi-truck tried to get away on foot but were caught by police.

“These circumstances are dynamic, and public safety is always at the forefront. You want to arrest your suspect, but at the same token, people need to remain safe while we try to arrest these individuals,” said Alberta RCMP Cpl. Troy Savinkoff.

“Once we spike belted the vehicle, it was a chance for us to stop the vehicle and take the suspects into custody.”

Savinkoff said the driver of the semi-truck suffered minor injuries during his attempt to flee police and carjack another vehicle — but the suspect was treated in hospital and released and back into police custody.

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“In this case, you had people trying to evade capture… and they’re unpredictable of what they’re going to do as far as an attempt to get away,” said Savinkoff.

“They tried to get away in a semi, and once that got disabled, there was an attempt to force someone out of their own vehicle, and that’s a major risk to the public if that happens. Thankfully, we were able to engage with the individual and arrest him.”

Patrick Hurley, 46, of Edmonton, is facing charges that include six counts of possession of identity documents, possession of break-and-enter instruments, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, failure to comply with release order, criminal flight, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, theft of a motor vehicle, mischief over $5,000 and possession of a controlled substance.

Jonathan Friesen, 49, of Sturgeon County, is facing six counts of possession of identity documents, possession of break-and-enter instruments and possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000.

Bobbie-Lee Moody, 37, of Sturgeon County, is facing six counts of possession of identity documents, possession of break-and-enter instruments and possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000.

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Hurley and Friesen have been remanded into custody and their first court appearance is slated for Feb. 10 in Vegreville.

Moody was released on bond and is scheduled to next appear in court on Feb. 24 in Vegreville.

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