The Estevan RCMP has released further details on the high-speed pursuits that occurred in the Bienfait and Roche Percee areas earlier this week.
Officers were tending to a truck near Bienfait that was reported as stolen when another truck came upon them and fled the area at a high rate of speed. The vehicle drove through Bienfait at what the RCMP called a dangerous rate of speed and was later located on a back road near Roche Percee.
Police pursued the truck again and the truck collided with an RCMP vehicle, causing damage to the police vehicle. The pursuit lasted 17 kilometres before ending near Highway 39, when the two suspects were apprehended.
The RCMP has confirmed that both trucks involved had been stolen. One was a 2012 Dodge Ram and the other was a 2015 Dodge Ram.
Also, the pursuit ended in a farmer’s field on the east side of Highway 39 between Highway 703 and North Portal.
The RCMP has also released the charges laid against the two men.
David William Arsenault, 32, of Edmonton, has been charged with operating a motor vehicle while being pursued, operating a vehicle while being pursued in order to evade without lawful excuse, two counts of operating a vehicle in a dangerous manner, failing to comply with release conditions, failing to remain at the scene of an accident, operating a vehicle while disqualified and possession of stolen property worth at least $5,000.
Jason Gary Sawchuk, also 32, is facing most of the same charges, although he has not been charged with driving while disqualified. He is also facing a four counts of violation his release conditions, and two counts of possession of stolen property worth at least $5,000.
Their next court appearance will be Dec. 10.
The Estevan RCMP also commended the motorists that witnessed the pursuit and moved out of the way so that the police could effectively do their job to end the pursuit without injury or further risk to the public.
