Crime spree, high-speed pursuit on highway south of Edmonton ends with suspect vehicle rolling over

“Wrecked – into the trees.”

That’s the moment a police helicopter captured a suspect vehicle rolling off the road, putting an end to a lengthy police chase and a weeklong search for a suspect.

It also marked the culmination of dramatic helicopter footage – shared by Alberta RCMP Thursday – which showed a vehicle racing down the highway at speeds of up to 215 km/h, an alleged attempted robbery at a gas station, and ultimately the rollover that ended in an arrest.

Authorities say the Oct. 24 pursuit began at a southeast Edmonton home, where the wanted suspect – a 31-year-old man – drove off in an allegedly stolen vehicle just prior to an Edmonton Police Service (EPS) tactical team moving in for the arrest.

EPS and RCMP helicopters tracked the vehicle to the Beaumont area and recorded “very dangerous driving” down Highway 21.

As the vehicle approached a gas station in Bashaw, police asked the store employee to shut off all the fuel pumps and lock the doors. A passenger – who police have identified as a 14-year-old girl – can be seen running out of the car, and later falling out of it while attempting to get back in.

“Jesus, she fell out,” police can be heard saying over the footage. “She dropped a phone there.”

RCMP allege the man then attempted to steal an occupied vehicle at gun point.

“Covert RCMP and Police Service Dog units disrupted the armed robbery, but the suspect vehicle fled the parking lot,” RCMP said in a news release.

The vehicle drives a short distance away before eventually rolling off the road into a treed area. Several police vehicles then move in, and both suspects are arrested.

Authorities say three firearms were seized during the search of the vehicle, and two others were seized during a search of the home. Police say all five were stolen.

Armed robbery five days earlier

Police allege the man driving the vehicle was one of two suspects involved in an armed robbery with a firearm at a gas station in Caroline, Alta., five days earlier, on Oct. 19. One of the suspects allegedly fired the weapon twice at an employee. No one was injured.

Dillon Bristow, 31, is facing 77 charges, including armed robbery with a firearm, flight from police, dangerous driving, and several other offences. Police say he was bound by four separate firearm prohibition orders.

The 14-year-old girl has not been charged.

Police say it was the initial alleged armed robbery at the Caroline gas station that prompted the search for the two suspects. On Oct. 21, Mounties determined a suspicious man was in possession of a stolen vehicle.

“Officers attempted to arrest the male, who resisted arrest, attempted to disarm the officer and assaulted the officer,” police said in a news release. “The officer was taken to a local hospital with minor injuries. During this investigation, officers uncovered evidence linking the suspect to the armed robbery in Caroline.”

Victor L’Hirondelle, 29, was charged with armed robbery, choking a police officer, possession of a stolen truck and dirt bike, and several other offences.

Mounties say the entire investigation was “very elaborate” and got help from numerous police forces.

“This file showcases the seamless interoperability of the various units and partners of the Alberta RCMP” said Supt. Keith Horwood with the Alberta RCMP. “Thanks to our Real-Time Operations Centre and our various analysts, we are able to more safely and efficiently conduct various types of investigations.”

None of the allegations have been tested in court.