By Sheldon Spackman

good deed gone wrong

Man attacked at knifepoint by hitchhiker: Ponoka RCMP

Dec 21, 2020 | 1:36 PM

Mounties in central Alberta say a man was attacked at knifepoint last week by a hitchhiker he’d given a ride to.

Ponoka RCMP says they were called on the evening of Dec. 17 about a man at a rural residence that had been assaulted.

The victim told police that he gave a ride to a male hitchhiker who produced a knife and bear spray at him.

RCMP says the victim purposefully drove his truck into a ditch and while trying to flee was again assaulted with a knife before managing to get away and seek help at a rural residence.

Ponoka RCMP and Integrated Traffic Unit members set up containment in the area. Police Dog Services (PDS) was also engaged to search for the suspect.

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With tips from home owners, and following a successful track by the police dog, the suspect was located and taken into custody. He suffered a minor injury during his interaction with the police dog.

The male victim was taken to a local hospital where he was treated and released.

Dennis Tyler Rattlesnake, 35, faces charges of unlawful confinement, aggravated assault, and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose. At the time of his arrest, police say Rattlesnake was also wanted on a previous arrest warrant out of Maskwacis for aggravated assault.

Rattlesnake remains in custody ahead of his next court appearance scheduled for Jan. 8.

“This is the second violent incident in the same number of days where public assistance has been instrumental in our capture of the suspect” says Sergeant Erin St-Cyr of the Ponoka RCMP. “The Ponoka RCMP remains undaunted in our efforts to pursue and apprehend criminals whose acts put the safety of the community members at risk.”