The Estevan Police Service has released details of an incident that occurred Thursday morning in the Hillcrest area.
Deputy Police Chief Murray Cowan said police were notified at about 5 a.m. of a domestic type of incident in the Hillcrest area. While they were en route, they were informed that a woman had allegedly been pushed out of a moving vehicle, and the suspect was likely still in the area.
“As members got to the area, they noted the suspect vehicle that was described to them,” said Cowan.
When they attempted to stop the vehicle, it didn’t stop right away. Cowan said there were no dangerous speeds involved in the pursuit, but the vehicle did turn off of Perkins Street onto Park Drive through the grassy area down the hill, causing damage to all four tires.
The pursuit continued, and members were able to stop the vehicle around Souris Avenue South and Fourth Street, after a collision between one of the police cars and the suspect vehicle.
The police car sustained what Cowan described as “minor damage,” and is still drivable. The suspect vehicle came out with “major damage,” but Cowan said there was already a lot of damage to the vehicle before the collision.
“We determined that the vehicle was stolen out of Medicine Hat, and had obviously been damaged in the meantime, and had been travelling down to this area,” said Cowan.
Cowan said the police don’t know why the two people were in the Estevan area.
A search warrant was conducted on the vehicle, and some property was discovered. Cowan didn’t have specifics into what was found, other than drug paraphernalia and prescription medication that didn’t belong to the two people.
Blake Dunstall, a 34-year-old man from B.C., has been charged with driving while impaired by drug, dangerous driving, evading police, driving while disqualified, resisting arrest, possession of stolen property worth more than $5,000, and violating his release conditions.
Catrina Cooper, a 33-year-old woman from Moose Jaw, was charged with possession of stolen property worth more than $5,000, and violating her probation order.
Both made a court appearance on Thursday, and Cooper made another appearance in Estevan Provincial Court on Monday, when the charges against her were stayed.
The matter is still under investigation, and additional charges could be laid for assault and possession of stolen property.
