By Troy Gillard

behind bars again

Man charged in police chase last summer sentenced

May 12, 2021 | 1:30 PM

One of two men charged following a series of police pursuits throughout central Alberta last summer where shots were fired at police has been sentenced to nearly two years behind bars.

It was just after 11 p.m. on Aug. 12, 2020 when Sylvan Lake RCMP were advised by Calgary police that a stolen vehicle was in their area after speeding through the Lacombe area.

The vehicle was later located by Blackfalds RCMP and a pursuit was briefly started then ended after it failed to stop for police.

RCMP said the vehicle was again located and a spike belt was used. The vehicle entered a rural property east of Lacombe where the occupants abandoned the vehicle, stole another truck and fled.

Another pursuit began where a Police Dog Services (PDS) truck was struck by bullets believed to be fired from the suspects in the stolen truck. No one was hit injured by the shots.

Last seen March 31

Missing: Eugenie Headman, 66, of Maskwacis

Apr 04, 2026

mayor hopes to meet housing minister this month

Alberta demands Ottawa back off on housing funding stripped from Red Deer

Apr 02, 2026

Last seen Jan. 15

Missing: Courtney Cattleman, 17, of Maskwacis

Apr 02, 2026

The RCMP Emergency Response Team (ERT) was deployed and the fleeing vehicle was tracked to an area near Erskine and containment was set up. Police then received information that two other vehicles had just been stolen from a nearby property. Spike belts were used again and both stolen vehicles were stopped near Highway 12 and Range Road 202.

The suspects were arrested a little before 4 a.m. on Aug. 13.

One firearm was recovered from the vehicles that police say was stolen during a previous home invasion.

Alexander Michael Talbot, who is now 29-years-old, was sentenced in Red Deer provincial court on May 6 for operating a vehicle while prohibited, flight from police and theft of a motor vehicle. Talbot was sentenced to 22 months in prison, less six months’ credit for time already in custody, and handed a three-year driving ban.

Kenton Charles Butters, 32, is to appear in court May 18 to speak to the 20 criminal charges he is facing in relation to the events from last August.

Talbot was charged with manslaughter in the March 16, 2016 death of Dawson James (DJ) Wegner-Cramer, who was run over and killed while trying to prevent his work truck from being stolen from his home in north Red Deer. He later pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death and was sentenced to 3.5 years in prison, minus time spent in pre-trial custody. Talbot was granted parole in August 2018.