A Calgary man faces numerous charges in connection with Tuesday’s RCMP investigation into vehicle thefts, highway collisions, erratic driving and an extended police pursuit.
On Tuesday, Cochrane RCMP were notified of a suspected stolen cube van travelling from the Airdrie-area towards Cochrane. The suspect vehicle was located a short time later in a Cochrane neighbourhood. When officers attempted a traffic stop, the cube van drove off heading south on Highway 22.
The cube van was involved in two crashes along Highway 22, one at the Highway 1A intersection and another at Griffin Road involving a Jeep Wrangler. The suspect stole the Jeep, leaving the driver on the side of the highway, and continued southbound on Highway 22.
The stolen Jeep was spotted travelling westbound in the eastbound lanes on the Trans-Canada Highway driving and Canmore RCMP were alerted. Members of the Canmore RCMP detachment located the suspect and the Jeep Wrangler at an undisclosed location where the suspect was allegedly attempting to gain access to parked vehicles. The suspect tried to drive away but collided with an RCMP unit.
Paul Belanger, a 27-year-old from Calgary, was arrested and subsequently charged. Belanger’s charges include:
- Flight from police officer (six counts)
- Robbery
- Failing to stop at the scene of an accident (six counts)
- Possession of stolen property over $5,000 (five counts)
- Possession of stolen property
- Assaulting a peace officer
- Possession of a weapon
Belanger remains in custody and is scheduled to appear in Cochrane Provincial Court on Tuesday.
