On May 10, just after midnight, Evansburg RCMP received a complaint of suspicious vehicles in Parkland County, along Highway 627.

Police attended the area, located two suspicious trucks, and attempted to complete a traffic stop. The drivers attempted to flee the area and rammed one of the RCMP vehicles.

With the assistance of Edmonton Air Services, Mayerthorpe RCMP, Parkland RCMP, and Drayton Valley RCMP, the members proceeded to pursue both vehicles, resulting in the arrest of three males and one female.

It was confirmed that both trucks had been recently stolen from Vermilion, and Red Deer. 

All suspects are well known prolific offenders who were all out on release orders for varying offences, with one male wanted on a Canada-wide warrant for parole violations.

As a result of the investigation, the following people were arrested:

Colin Rumsey (42), a resident of Edmonton, was charged with:

  • Break and enter to rural property;
  • Obstruct police officer;
  • Mischief under $5000;
  • Possession of stolen property (x2) – 1 over $5000 and 1 under $5000
  • Drive while prohibited
  • Assault police officer with a weapon;
  • Flight from police officer; and
  • Dangerous operations of a motor vehicle.

Royston Watson (40), a resident of Wetaskiwin, was also arrested on a Canada-wide warrant for failing to comply with parole, was charged with:

  • Break and enter to rural property;
  • Obstruct police officer;
  • Possession of stolen property (x3); 1 over $5000 and 2 under $5000
  • Mischief under $5000;
  • Dangerous operations of a motor vehicle; and
  • Drive while prohibited

Lisa Beriault (35), a resident of Edmonton, was charged with:

  • Break and enter to rural property
  • Obstruct police officer

Lloyd Handbury (40), a resident of Winfield, was charged with:

  • Break and enter to rural property
  • Obstruct police officer and two counts of
  • Failure to comply (x2)

The accused were brought before a justice of the peace. Rumsey, Watson and Handbury were remanded into custody while Beriault was released on conditions. They are to appear at the Alberta Court of Justice in Evansburg on May 13.

“We want to thank those in rural Alberta for their assistance in locating these individuals and contacting the RCMP immediately, leading to the quick arrest of these prolific offenders’’ said Sgt Jeff Sutherland, Detachment Commander of the Evansburg RCMP. ‘‘This is a great example of how your Alberta RCMP, using information from the public, can work together to arrest those who would cause harm.’’