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UPDATE: RCMP arrest driver who allegedly smashed into dollar store

Mar 16, 2018 | 8:08 PM

RCMP have arrested and charged a man accused of driving a stolen truck into a storefront, hitting six parked vehicles and striking a police cruiser before fleeing police in south Red Deer Friday night.

Jesse James Leckner, 27, faces two counts of assault on police, one of resisting police, eight counts of failing to stop or remain at the scene, as well as counts of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, possession of stolen property over $5,000, possession of stolen property under $5,000, mischief over $5,000 and failure to comply with probation.

Mounties say the incident began shortly before 5:30 p.m. on March 16 when police on patrol spotted a suspicious truck with a stolen license plate as it drove in south Red Deer. Due to public safety concerns, RCMP tracked the truck from a distance until it parked at a strip mall. They then moved in to block it.

When Mounties pulled in behind the truck, the driver allegedly reversed rapidly a number of times, crashing into the windows of the Dollar Tree at Bower Plaza, then striking a police cruiser and the vehicles parked around it.

In its efforts to flee at a high rate of speed, RCMP say the truck narrowly avoided hitting police officers who were on foot in the parking lot, with a number of civilians said to be in the parking lot as well, on foot and in their vehicles.

Fortunately, no one was injured, but the truck did cause significant damage to the storefront, six parked vehicles and a police cruiser.

The suspect however was identified and located soon afterwards thanks to reports from the public about a suspicious truck parked at an apartment building at the bottom of the north hill on 60 Street. Mounties contained the area with support from Police Dog Services and found the suspect hiding inside where he was taken into custody without further incident.

Police say the suspect was wanted on an outstanding warrant for breaching probation, adding the truck suffered extensive damage after being reported stolen out of Red Deer March 4 when it was left unlocked and running.

In addition to this incident, RCMP say Leckner faces further charges in relation to a series of incidents involving a stolen truck, flight from police and two gas and dash reports between February 5 – 24.

Those charges include two of theft under $5,000, possession of stolen property over $5,000, failure to stop for police and failure to comply with probation.

“The series of incidents Friday night posed a grave risk to the public and we were able to move quickly on it and make the arrest as a result of intelligence gathered by police and great cooperation from the public,” said Staff Sergeant Rob Marsollier of Red Deer RCMP. “We were able to bring this incident to a successful conclusion with no injury to innocent bystanders or police officers, thanks to good old-fashioned police work, tips from the public and the quick cooperation of a number of people in sharing footage from various surveillance cameras with police.”

Leckner will remain in custody leading up to his appearance in Red Deer court on March 19.