Man arrested for assault, attempt to steal police vehicle in Edmonton

A 35-year-old man has been arrested by the Edmonton police after he assaulted a police officer and attempted to steal a police vehicle.

According to a news release Tuesday, at approximately 8:20 a.m. on August 19, West Branch patrol officers responded to a report of a male driver and female passenger being passed out and unresponsive in a red Kia Optima sedan in 107 Avenue and 149 Street. When the driver awoke, he attempted to flee and rammed the responding police vehicles multiple times. After exiting the vehicle, the male then entered a nearby marked police vehicle and attempted to drive away.

Officers thwarted this attempt.

The suspect then resisted arrest and assaulted an officer attempting to take him into custody. During a search of the Kia sedan, investigators located drugs and ammunition.

According to the EPS Northwest Investigative Response Team (IRT), intoxication is believed to be a factor in this incident.

Staff Sergeant Michael Dreilich with the EPS Northwest IRT team said, “The incident illustrates the dynamic and often dangerous situations faced by our officers which require quick thinking and immediate action.”

The male suspect, identified as 35-year-old Wilfred Hardy, and one of the responding officers were transported to hospital by EMS as a precaution. Both have been released from hospital and Hardy has since been remanded.

Hardy has been charged with mischief, assault with a weapon, resisting arrest and possession for the purpose of trafficking. The 28-year-old female passenger was also taken into custody, without incident, for multiple outstanding warrants, officials said.

“Impaired driving puts the public at significant risk, and we are pleased that our members acted quickly and took the necessary steps to prevent this suspect from driving away and putting others in harm’s way,” added Dreilich.