Joshua Cody Mitchell, 20, has been formally charged in connection with a hit and run that claimed the life of a 35-year-old Calgary mother on Sunday.

Mitchell was arrested along with an unidentified teenage boy at home in Beddington Heights after following up on tips from the public.

They say the 16-year-old boy, who cannot be identified, surrendered to police around the time they set up outside the home.

About two hours later, after a Tactical Unit and a police negotiator were called in, Mitchell surrendered.

The 16-year-old won’t be facing any charges so far, but Mitchell has been charged with:

  • Criminal negligence causing death
  • Hit and run causing death
  • Dangerous driving causing death
  • Possession of stolen property over $5000
  • Theft

He appeared in court briefly on Thursday morning, and the case was put over until Monday.

Court documents indicate that Mitchell had gotten in trouble for his driving earlier in 2015 and was out on bail for dangerous driving.

He was also wanted on warrants for failing to appear in court to answer those charges in February.

Several charges are left outstanding from that incident, including:

  • Dangerous driving
  • Possession of a stolen vehicle
  • Driving without a licence
  • Failure to appear
  • Fraud under $5,000

At the time of the incident on Sunday, authorities say that Mitchell was not allowed to be in a private vehicle without having the registered owner of the vehicle with him.

Meanwhile, a memorial is continuing to grow at the Centex gas station where Maryam Rashidi Ashtiani, 35, worked for just two weeks.

Ashtiani died of the injuries sustained when she was hit by a truck while trying to stop two men from fleeing after a gas-and-dash at the station on 16 Avenue N.W. on Sunday.

Police say the victim noticed the truck drive away without paying, and then proceed to the parking lot of a Home Depot next door.

That’s where Ashtiani confronted the pair in the truck, at which point the driver attempted to flee, hitting her and carrying her on the hood for about 15 metres.

She eventually fell off and was run over by the truck, sustaining serious injuries.

The thieves made off with $113.23.

Police say that it doesn’t matter how much money is at stake, it’s not worth anyone losing their life.

“It doesn’t matter if it was a billion dollars, it doesn’t matter what it is. When you look at that property or money, it definitely is not worth anyone losing their life or risking their life in this situation,” says Inspector Ken Thrower with the CPS.

Thrower added that he did not want to demean Ashtiani’s actions, saying she felt she was doing the right thing at the time for the right reason.

She leaves behind a husband and a six-year-old son.

Anyone wishing to contribute to Ashtiani's family may do so at any TD Canada Trust branch:

  • "In Trust for Ahmad and Koroosh"
  • Branch: 01729
  • Account: 6737034