Victim Escapes, Leads to Major Arrest Near Elk Point

A woman’s desperate escape from a stolen vehicle near Elk Point set off a high-risk police operation Saturday that spanned multiple communities and ended with the arrest of a prolific offender wanted on a Canada-wide warrant.

At around 3:30 p.m. on Nov. 9, 2025, the victim flagged down Elk Point RCMP officers during an unrelated traffic stop, telling them she had been assaulted, threatened, and forcibly taken in a stolen vehicle.

“This incident demonstrates how all agencies work together for a common goal — keeping our communities safe,” said Staff Sergeant John Pike, St. Paul RCMP Detachment Commander. “In this case, multiple detachments and partner agencies worked as a team until the suspect, a prolific offender, was safely apprehended.”

Coordinated Response Across the Lakeland

Thanks to the Alberta RCMP Real Time Operations Centre (RTOC) in Edmonton, the situation was quickly coordinated with officers from Elk Point, St. Paul, Bonnyville, Kitscoty, Lloydminster, and Vermilion. Alberta Sheriffs, Fish and Wildlife, and OnStar were also called in to help track and stop the suspect.

Fish and Wildlife first located the stolen vehicle in the County of St. Paul, where St. Paul RCMP deployed a takedown device. The suspect then broke into a nearby home, stole another vehicle, and tried to flee. OnStar remotely disabled the ignition, bringing the vehicle to a stop without a chase.

Arrest and Charges

Police arrested 36-year-old Marina Dawn Smith, of no fixed address, who was wanted on a Canada-wide warrant. Smith faces 17 additional charges, including:
▪️ Robbery
▪️ Forcible confinement
▪️ Flight from peace officer
▪️ Break and enter
▪️ Theft over $5,000 (x2)
▪️ Possession of ammunition while prohibited (x3)
▪️ Operating while prohibited
▪️ Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle
▪️ Assault
▪️ Uttering threats
▪️ Mischief under $5,000
▪️ Operating an uninsured vehicle (x2)
▪️ Theft under $5,000

After a judicial hearing, Smith was remanded into custody and will appear in Alberta Court of Justice in St. Paul on Nov. 27, 2025.

Victim Safe, Vehicles Recovered

The victim is safe and receiving support from RCMP Victim Services. Both stolen vehicles have been recovered and returned to their owners.

Pike credited teamwork and technology for bringing the dangerous incident to a close: “Incidents like this show how critical our partnerships are — from RTOC coordination to OnStar and local law enforcement. Together, we make our communities safer.”