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Five arrested after police chase outside Meadow Lake

May 22, 2018 | 8:00 AM

Five Alberta residents will be in court today after a string of incidents Wednesday, May 16, including a car fire, police pursuit, break and enter, and thefts.

A vehicle fire was reported at 2:50 p.m. approximately eight kilometres south of Dorintosh near the Beaver River. The fire spread to the trees in the surrounding area and required the assistance of the water bombers which were assisting with nearby wildfires at the Meadow Lake Provincial Park. The car was reported stolen from Meadow Lake earlier in the day.

About a half hour later, a silver Hyundai accent was seen driving erratically in the provincial park, and officers from the Meadow Lake, Pierceland, and Loon Lake RCMP detachments responded. The vehicle was located on Highway 21 and a pursuit began. The vehicle was stopped a short time later on the stretch of Highway 21 between Pierceland and Loon Lake, and RCMP members approached the car to arrest the suspects. One of the RCMP members discharged their firearm at the suspect vehicle, which then sped away and the pursuit continued.

The suspects fled for eight more kilometres, RCMP said, before two women and three men were arrested without further incident. No injuries were sustained by any of the suspects or officers during the chase.

An investigation determined the Hyundai was stolen from Alta. in late April, RCMP said. The same individuals were charged in connection with the vehicle fire on Highway 4 and two other incidents reported to police the same day; a break and enter at a nearby property and a theft of liquor from a store in St. Walburg.

Jessie Von Gladue, 25, Neil Vincent Lewis, 31, Charlton Dwight Gladue, 31, Jody Lewis, 27, and Savanah Jenna McGilvery, 22, were taken into custody. Lewis and McGilvery are from Frog Lake, Alta., and the three others are each from Saddle Lake, Alta.

Each suspect faces a number of charges including possession of stolen property, break and enter, arson with disregard for life, and flight from police. Lewis was also charged with driving while disqualified and wearing a disguise with the intent of committing an indictable offence. All five suspects are set to appear in Meadow Lake provincial court today, and all are presumed innocent at this stage.

Because a firearm was discharged during the pursuit, RCMP policy requires that an internal investigation of the incident be performed by an independent observer.

 

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