Two Southwest Division members were responding to a low level shoplifting call in a parkade near 109 Street and Whyte Avenue earlier this morning, just after midnight. The call quickly progressed into a high priority, criminal flight incident requiring the response of more than 55 EPS members from multiple sections and the assistance of the Strathcona County RCMP, where two suspects were eventually arrested.
“This was just one call for service out of 150,000 that will require an officer to respond this year,” said Southwest Division Insp. Erik Johnson, noting the combined number of emergency and non-emergency calls to EPS is anticipated to be approximately 920,000 for 2015.
“Certainly, not all calls for service require this level of extensive response, which in this instance involved everyone from patrol, to tactical, Canine, Air 1, Robbery, CIS and Traffic. But it definitely paints a vivid picture of how a simple shoplifting call can stretch police resources to the max on any given day, not to mention the hours of paperwork required thereafter.”
Two suspects reportedly fled the Whyte Avenue parkade in a stolen Toyota Tundra vehicle, colliding with a police cruiser, after being approached by officers. The suspects allegedly abandoned the vehicle in the Belgravia area, before trying to gain access to three different residences, the first at gunpoint with a home owner.
The suspects eventually stole a Volkswagen Tiguan from a nearby residence, before reaching speeds in excess of 150 km/h, while driving against traffic down Gateway Boulevard.
With Air 1 overhead, the two suspects then allegedly robbed a convenience store clerk at gunpoint in a store near 17 Street and 23 Avenue in southeast Edmonton.
The suspects fled from the store northbound and made their way onto the Whitemud Freeway at the Anthony Henday, where a minor collision occurred and a failed car-jacking attempt with the same vehicle.
The suspects fled from this location on the Whitemud and went north on Range Road 233 into Sherwood Park. Police were able to successfully immobilize the suspect vehicle at this point, and arrest a male and female suspect who had fled on foot for a short distance, with the assistance of Canine and Tactical Unit members.
Jake Wells, 23, and Adara Gunnarson, 26, are facing multiple weapon, break and enter, armed robbery and various other traffic-related charges, which investigators continue to finalize today.
A crime spree that stretched from southwest Edmonton to Strathcona County, also stretched the resources of the Edmonton Police Service earlier this morning.