Stolen truck driven 'dangerously at excessive speeds' nets 80 charges

Two men and a woman face a long list of charges after a truck pulling a trailer led police on a chase from Airdrie to Calgary and back again early Sunday morning.

The chase began at 1 a.m. in Airdrie, when police stopped a Ford F-150 towing a trailer with no lights.

The driver took off suddenly, nearly hitting an RCMPvehicle before driving the wrong direction on streets in Airdrieand heading towardCalgary on Highway 2, police said.

"The vehicle entered Calgary city limits where it continued to drive dangerously at excessive speeds," RCMPsaid in a release.

Tracked by helicopter

The Calgary police HAWCS helicopterfollowed the truck as it entered city limits, where the driverpulled over and with the help of the occupants,tried to unhook the trailer.

They only got it partially unhooked before police caught up with them again. The truck took off with the trailer "bouncing all over the road" before it broke away androlled across the highway, said the news release.

The truck headednorth on rural roads toward Airdrie and the helicopter was able to relay a location for a spike belt to be set up. It was successful and the truck came to a stop near Yankee Valley Blvd. and Eighth Street.

Two suspects were arrested after they fled on foot, and another was found by police dogs hiding under a deck.

Sawed-off shotgun

Police also found a loaded, sawed-off shotgun in another yard nearby. They say it was tossed there by the suspect.

It's believed the Ford F-150 and trailer were both stolen.

Investigators have alsolinked the three suspects to other crimes committed in Calgary, Strathmore and Airdrie, police say.

• Stolen shotgun recovered after lengthy police pursuit through Airdrie and Calgary

Mitchell Stanley Hall, 32, of Airdrie, was charged with 59 offences, including possession of a weapon obtained by crime, resisting a peace officer and impaired driving.

Tyrell Teddy Noskiye, 27, of Fort Mackay, was charged with 16 weapons and stolen property offences, and Darby Jackson Benedict, 22, was charged with nineoffences.

Hall is set to appear in provincial court on Feb. 1, Noskiye on Feb. 8, and Benedict on Jan. 25.

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