Bonnyville man charged in a number of Gas n’ Dash cases

At approximately 5:00 pm, on October 15th, the Cold Lake RCMP received a call from Ardmore, reporting a suspicious male that was around a vehicle. The male was saying to the caller that he had broken down and was out of gas. The caller was concerned that he was trying to steal gas.

RCMP attended and located a vehicle that matched previous gas and dash investigations in Cold Lake. The vehicle also matched the description the caller gave police. S/Sgt. Jeremie Landry, with the Cold Lake Detachment, explains that there was some struggle stopping the vehicle in question, “when the vehicle was located in Ardmore, the driver initially failed to stop for police. He continued driving through the town without stopping.”

“The officer was able to recognize the driver, by name and utilized the loud speaker to call him by name and tell him to pull over,” it was at that point the driver complied, explains S/Sgt. Landry. “He was immediately arrested. Warrants for his arrest were also executed. He was on a driving prohibition and the vehicle was not registered or insured. He also has conditions from a probation order.” The vehicle, a red GMC, was seized.

RCMP have charged 28 year old, Kristijan Gajic-Vucik, of Bonnyville with:

• Operating a motor vehicle while being persued by police
• Operating a motor vehicle while disqualified
• Failing to comply with a probation order
• Disobeying a court order
• Operating a motor vehicle without valid registration
• Operating a motor vehicle without valid insurance

Warrants for the arrest of Gajic-Vucik stem from an incident on September 24th at the Fast Gas in Cold Lake where Gajic-Vucik is accused of stealing $60 worth of gas. He was identified via surveillance video and is charged with:

• Theft under $5,000
• Failing to comply with a probation order
• Disobeying a court order
• Driving while disqualified
• Operating a motor vehicle without valid registration
• Operating a motor vehicle without valid insurance

The following day, on September 25th, Esso in Cold Lake, reported the same vehicle had stolen $70 worth of gas. He has been charged with:

• Theft under $5,000
• Failing to comply with a probation order
• Disobeying a court order
• Driving while disqualified
• Operating a motor vehicle without valid registration
• Operating a motor vehicle without valid insurance

There are two other incidents in neighbouring communities from early October. Kristijan Gajic-Vucik has been remanded into custody and will be facing all of these charges in court on October 25th at 10:00 am in Cold Lake.