A 28 year-old male is charged with eighteen offences including robbery, evade police, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, unlawful possession of a controlled substance and obstruction of justice. As well, a 21 year-old female is also charged with evading police and unlawful possession of a controlled substance.
At approximately 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 31st, 2015, patrol members were dispatched to the 4500 block of Gordon Road to investigate a suspicious truck. The first officer arrived and approached the truck. The officer spoke to the male driver and suspected he was impaired. The male driver then fled in the truck refusing to stop for police. After evading police, the responding officers did not pursue the truck due to the unsafe driving actions of the suspect. Approximately ten minutes later, the truck was again seen driving out of the city, westbound on the Trans Canada Highway. The RCMP were notified and made an attempt to stop the truck while travelling from Regina along the Trans Canada Highway. Members of the RCMP terminated their brief pursuit as the driver refused to pull over and began driving in an erratic manner. The Moose Jaw RCMP and Regina Police Service officers later located the truck while it was stopped at a gas station in Moose Jaw. The truck drove away from the gas station, again refusing to stop for police. Pursuit of the truck was discontinued.
While in Moose Jaw, Regina Police were able to apprehend a 21 year-old female inside the gas station. The female had been a passenger in the truck.
At approximately 10:05 a.m., members of the RCMP again located the truck travelling eastbound near Belle Plaine, Saskatchewan. The RCMP alerted the Regina Police that the truck was heading back towards Regina. At approximately 10:25 a.m., Regina Police Service officers made efforts to stop the truck using a spike belt as it was reentering the City of Regina. However, the spike belt could not be deployed effectively due to surrounding traffic.
Around 10:51 a.m., police again located the truck parked in a parking lot just east of 5th Avenue and Albert Street. Police approached the truck but were unable to contain the truck and driver and it drove away. Police did not pursue.
At approximately 11:45 a.m. a member of the Regina Police Service Traffic Unit was conducting routine traffic enforcement in the area of Victoria Avenue East and McAra Street. Initially believing he had intercepted a truck exceeding the speed limit, the officer attempted to stop it but would soon learn this was the same truck that had been evading other officers. Due to the unsafe driving action of the suspect, the traffic officer did not pursue the truck.
Around 12:46 p.m. patrol officers were alerted to the truck being in the area of 5th Avenue and Robinson Street travelling westbound. A Regina Police Service supervisor deployed a spike belt near 5th Avenue and Athol Street, deflating the tires on the truck. Once the spike belt was deployed, officers pursued the truck to Albert Street and 7th Avenue where the lone male suspect driver ran from the truck. The suspect male ran up to another vehicle which was stopped in traffic. The suspect was carrying what appeared to be a firearm when he approached the other vehicle. The suspect then attempted to remove a female from the driver’s seat of her car. While the suspect was trying to remove the female from the driver’s seat, the car was set in motion and collided with a marked police vehicle and an unmarked police vehicle. The suspect was unsuccessful in robbing the car as police officers intervened. One officer deployed his Conducted Energy Weapon at the suspect who was then taken into custody. Police were able to confirm the firearm was a pellet gun. The suspect was not injured but was transported to hospital by ambulance for precautionary measures. The suspect remained in police custody and was later transported to Regina Police cells. The female victim was not injured in this incident.
As a result of this incident, a twenty-eight year-old male and twenty-one year-old female were arrested and subsequently charged.
Twenty-eight year-old William CRAWFORD, DOB: 1987-05-21, of Yorkton, is charged with eighteen offences:
- Possession of Controlled Substance (Morphine) [4(5) CDSA]
- Possession of Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine) [4(5) CDSA]
- Four charges of Flight while Pursued by Peace Officer [249.1(1) CC] X 4
- Obstruct Peace Officer [129(a) CC]
- Robbery [343(d) CC]
- Dangerous Operation of a Motor Vehicle [249(1)(a) CC]
- Driving While Impaired [253(1)(a) CC]
- Five charges of Breach of Court Order [145(3) CC] X5
- Possession Contrary to Order (replica firearm) [117.01(1) CC]
- Possession Contrary to Order (shotgun shells) [117.01(1) CC]
- Using Imitation Firearm in Commission of Offence [85(2)(a) CC]
William CRAWFORD was also arrested on outstanding warrants from Yorkton and Prince Albert for the following offences:
- Four charges of Dangerous Operation of a Motor Vehicle [249(1)(a) CC] X4
- Seven charges of Breach of Court Order [145(3) CC] X7
Twenty-one year-old Shelby DONALD, DOB: 1993-11-20, of Prince Albert, is charged with:
- Possession of Controlled Substance (Morphine) [4(5) CDSA]
- Possession of Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine) [4(5) CDSA]
- Two charges of Flight while Pursued by Peace Officer [249.1(1) CC] X 2
Both CRAWFORD and DONALD will make their first court appearances at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, November 2nd, 2015, in Provincial Court.
The tactics used to immobilize the truck, as well all pursuits of the truck will be the subject of two review boards within the Regina Police Service – a Use of Force and Pursuit Review.
The use of the CEW has been documented as per policy and will also be reviewed by a Use of Force Committee – a committee with the Service. All uses of force are also reported to the Saskatchewan Police Commission – an oversight body independent of the Regina Police Service.
The investigation into this matter is ongoing. Anyone with information about these events and the driving action of the truck is encouraged to contact the Regina Police Service at 306-777-6500 or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.