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Innisfail RCMP arrest one, searching for another following stolen vehicle incident

Nov 9, 2017 | 3:10 PM

Charges have been laid in connection to an incident this week in Innisfail involving a stolen truck.

RCMP say they received a call on Tuesday from a victim who reported he had left his vehicle running and it was gone when he returned to it. 

Thankfully, the vehicle was equipped with a GPS tracker and the victim was able to assist members in locating it at a nearby trailer park.

When police arrived, a passenger got out and attempted to flee on foot, but was caught after a foot pursuit. He was arrested without further incident.

Then, the stolen truck drove through a fence and fled the trailer court and Innisfail RCMP were eventually forced to abandon the chase because of the erratic driving and the risk it posed to the public.

The truck was then abandoned and another one was stolen from that location. Police do not know who the driver was, but continue to investigate.

The passenger who was arrested following a foot pursuit was Jonathan Battler, 25, of no fixed address. Battler was wanted on eight outstanding warrants and faces new charges of possession of stolen property over $5,000, obstruction, breach of recognizance and failure to appear.

He is scheduled to appear in court Friday.

If you have any information about this incident, call the Innisfail RCMP at 403-227-3342. To remain anonymous, you can call Crime Stoppers by phone at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), or by internet at www.tipsubmit.com.