By Troy Gillard

Witness helps locate suspect

Red Deer man arrested for breaking into Olds auto dealer, fleeing police

Jun 16, 2020 | 4:49 PM

A 55-year-old man from Red Deer faces several charges after he was caught breaking into an auto dealership near Olds on Tuesday.

It was just after 4 a.m. when local Mounties responded to a complaint of a break and enter in progress at the Mountain View Dodge east of Olds.

Police say the dealership’s security company alerted them that a U-Haul truck had entered the gated area of the business and a lone male was observed stealing tires and batteries.

Officers immediately attended the location and the suspect fled in the U-Haul through the closed gate causing considerable damage.

As the suspect fled, RCMP say many of the stolen batteries spilled out of the back of the truck. The U-Haul continued northbound on Highway 2 before hitting the ditch south of Bowden.

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A witness assisted officers by pointing out the suspect’s direction of travel as he fled on foot through a farmer’s field. Police Dog Services from Red Deer were called to help contain the area and successfully tracked the suspect to a wooded area where he was arrested without incident.

As it turned out, the U-Haul had been stolen and that the suspect was wanted on arrest warrants out of Blackfalds and Calgary.

The suspect is in custody and awaiting a bail hearing on charges of break and enter and commit theft, mischief over $5,000, possession of stolen property over $5,000, flight from police, driving while unauthorized and operating a motor vehicle while uninsured.

“The Olds RCMP want to recognize the value to businesses of investing in a high quality security system. “It is a system such as this that not only assisted police in providing a quick response, but it also provided real-time and detailed information on the suspect’s description, actions and vehicle,” reads an RCMP media release.

“Police also wish to thank the member of the public whose observations and assistance led to a quick apprehension of the suspect and recovery of stolen property.”