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Trial booked for man accused of ramming police cruiser, injuring officer

Feb 6, 2018 | 1:00 PM

Trial has been booked for a local man accused of ramming into an RCMP cruiser and injuring an officer last summer has pleaded not guilty.

It was on July 17, 2017 when police intercepted a white Ford truck as it was being stolen in Highland Green.

The truck fled police down a walking path in Riverside Meadows before appearing to be stuck on a median near the intersection of Taylor Drive and Kerry Wood Drive.

When police approached in a marked cruiser, the truck backed into the police car at a high rate of speed before speeding away northbound on Taylor Drive. An officer suffered minor injuries in the collision and was taken to hospital for treatment.

The truck was later found abandoned in a parking lot. The suspect was eventually arrested by another RCMP detachment on an unrelated matter.

James Kenneth Riley, 26, faces several charges including fail to stop at scene of accident, flight from police, dangerous operation of motor vehicle, assault peace officer, operate motor vehicle while disqualified, theft of motor vehicle and fail to comply with probation.

Riley will face trial in Red Deer Provincial Court on June 21-22 of this year.