Rural Crime Reduction Unit arrests three in Beaver River area

RCMP arrested three after doing a joint operation in the Beaver Lake area on Tuesday.

Members of the Eastern Alberta District Rural Crime Reduction Unit (EADRCRU) conducted an intelligence led joint operation with the Lac La Biche RCMP, Boyle RCMP, St Paul Police Dog Services (PDS) and RCMP Air Services in the Beaver Lake area. Efforts were being made to locate wanted individuals and stolen vehicles.

During this operation, a male prohibited from operating a vehicle was spotted driving in a stolen SUV.

The male fled at high speed from RCMP members who deployed a tire deflation device to stop it.  The male continued fleeing into back trails in the Beaver Lake area, but was unable to evade RCMP Air Services who were following from the sky.  The stolen vehicle became disabled and the driver was arrested without incident with the assistance of St Paul PDS.  The SUV the male had used to flee had been stolen from Grassland and was recovered.

Chad Gladue (22) of Beaver Lake is facing several criminal charges, which include:

• Multiple counts of failing to comply with conditions
• Flight from police
• Dangerous driving
• Driving while disqualified
• Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000

He was remanded into custody by a Justice and is scheduled to appear in court on December 3, 2018 in Lac La Biche.

Efforts by RCMP members continued and led to the discovery of a hidden cabin where stolen vehicles were being hidden. Two trucks stolen from Lac La Biche and a truck stolen from Sturgeon County were recovered by police.

As the stolen vehicle site was being searched, Boyle RCMP members located another stolen vehicle nearby which fled from police at high speed. Again, RCMP Air Services was able to follow the fleeing truck from the air.  The driver of the vehicle trail blazed through swamps and bush to get away, but was unable to evade RCMP members in the sky.  The stolen truck became stuck and the driver was subsequently arrested without incident. A prohibited weapon was found in the possession of the driver.

Curtis Nichols (25) of Lac La Biche is facing several criminal charges, which include:

• Flight from police
• Dangerous driving
• Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000
• Driving while disqualified
• Possession of a prohibited weapon

He was released by a Justice following a bail hearing and is scheduled to appear in court on November 27, 2018 in Boyle.

Hank Gladue (30) of Beaver Lake, who was wanted for driving while disqualified, was also located during RCMP efforts and arrested for his warrant.  He was released and is scheduled to appear in court on December 17, 2018 in Lac La Biche.