Sask. RCMP seek 2 persons of interest in connection with crimes, including auto theft, ramming police vehicle
RCMP investigating at least 23 crimes they believe are connected, including the ramming of a police vehicle, say they have identified two persons of interest. The crimes happened across three provinces.
The crimes RCMP are looking into happened between July 6 and 16, and include thefts, use of stolen property and theft of vehicles in Kelowna, B.C., Hanna, Alta., and communities across central and southern Saskatchewan, according to a news release from RCMP sent Thursday.
On July 8, RCMP received a report of fuel theft in Wynyard, Sask., which is a little less than 192 km southeast of Saskatoon.
Officers responded, saw a truck they said was the suspect vehicle, and turned on their emergency lights. As police pulled up behind the pick-up truck, the vehicle rammed into the cruiser, RCMP said.
WATCH | RCMP vehicle struck by suspect truck in Saskatchewan:
The driver of the truck refused to exit the vehicle, and RCMP said it eventually hit two more parked vehicles before driving into the front corner of the police vehicle again and fleeing eastbound on Highway 16.
No injuries were reported in the incident, and neighbouring RCMP detachments were informed of the fleeing vehicle.
RCMP in Yorkton, Sask., located about 190 km northeast of Regina, were able to spot the truck several times in the city.
The truck didn't stop for police vehicles and at times tried to drive off at high speeds, RCMP said.
Around 10:45 p.m. CST on July 8, the truck was found abandoned on a road east of Yorkton.
Police said they later learned the pick-up truck was reported stolen in Broadview, Sask., on July 6, with the licence plate found on the vehicle originally being reported stolen on July 8 in Springside, Sask.
More stolen vehicles
Police said two more stolen vehicles — a white SUV taken from a property just outside of Yorkton later on July 8 and a black Ford F-150 pick-up truck — were later connected to the incidents in Yorkton.
The white SUV was found abandoned in July 10, in Eston, Sask., a small town across the province closer to the Alberta border, while the black Ford F-150 was reported stolen from a rural property in Tyner, Sask., on July 9.
As part of the RCMP's investigation, crime analysts were asked to see if there were any other related incidents, the news release said.
According to their review, there may be at least 23 connected incidents across Western Canada, including:
Vehicle thefts in Yorkton, Kipling, Tyner and Bethune, Sask.
Stolen vehicles recovered in Chamberlain, Yorkton and Tyner, Sask., and Kelowna, B.C.
Fuel thefts in Viscount, Wynyard and Chaplin, Sask.
Flight from police officers in Whitewood, Foam Lake, Yorkton, Belle Plain and Swift Current, Sask.
Thefts from vehicles in Regina.
Use of a stolen credit card in Hanna, Alta.
RCMP have identified two people of interest and continue to investigate.
One is a man described as having blonde hair, a slim build and a tattoo on the left side of his neck. There are no further details on the tattoo at this time, police said.
The second individual is a woman described as having blonde hair with dark roots and a slim build.
Police asked that anyone recognizing these individuals contact their local RCMP detachment or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
