A cab driver on Whyte Avenue played a pivotal role in helping members of the EPS Southwest Division CAT Deployment to locate and arrest a fleeing hit-and-run suspect early Saturday morning.
Just after midnight, a Dodge Neon collided with a parked car between 103 and 104 streets on Whyte Avenue. The suspect vehicle then rolled and came to a stop on its side in the busy entertainment district. It was reported that a 20-year-old male, who was driving the vehicle, climbed out of the vehicle, then jumped on a bus and fled the scene.
The cab driver followed the bus and quickly contacted police, who arrived and arrested the suspect near the University of Alberta’s Hub mall shortly thereafter.
Nicholas Vaillancourt, 20, is charged with impaired driving and hit and run.
Motorcycle noise on the Avenue also kept members busy during the most recent CAT deployment. Officers pulled over close to 100 motorcyclists Saturday evening and issued 41 tickets for exhaust infractions (idle or RPM text) and 64 in total for other traffic safety violations.
The CAT team also seized more than 77,000 gms of illegal tobacco valued at close to $10,000 – the largest such seizure in EPS history – from an establishment on the Avenue. Charges are pending.
The Southwest Division CAT deployment focused police and community efforts on reducing crime and disorder on Whyte Avenue and surrounding neighbourhoods between 99 and 109 streets between June 11-14.
The cab driver followed the bus and quickly contacted police, who arrived and arrested the suspect near the University of Alberta’s Hub mall shortly thereafter.
Nicholas Vaillancourt, 20, is charged with impaired driving and hit and run.
Motorcycle noise on the Avenue also kept members busy during the most recent CAT deployment. Officers pulled over close to 100 motorcyclists Saturday evening and issued 41 tickets for exhaust infractions (idle or RPM text) and 64 in total for other traffic safety violations.
The CAT team also seized more than 77,000 gms of illegal tobacco valued at close to $10,000 – the largest such seizure in EPS history – from an establishment on the Avenue. Charges are pending.
The Southwest Division CAT deployment focused police and community efforts on reducing crime and disorder on Whyte Avenue and surrounding neighbourhoods between 99 and 109 streets between June 11-14.