Calgary police have reported that a man has been taken into custody for stealing a vehicle and driving it in the wrong direction on two major roads early Sunday morning. The incident began in the 900 block of 32 Avenue N.E around 2 a.m. when a man was assaulted and had his car stolen. The carjacker and the stolen vehicle were not present when the police arrived at the scene.
Shortly after, authorities received reports of a vehicle matching the stolen car’s description driving in the wrong direction on northbound Crowchild Trail in southwest Calgary. Staff Sgt. Mike Sushelnitsky stated that the driver’s reckless behavior necessitated the use of a helicopter and other resources to apprehend him.
The police deployed the Helicopter Air Watch for Community Safety (HAWCS) in response to the situation. Sushelnitsky emphasized the significant risk posed by the driver’s actions and the potential for harm to the public, leading to a substantial deployment of resources to prevent any potential injuries.
In a recent incident, a man lost his life after driving the wrong way on Sarcee Trail in southwest Calgary. In this latest case, the suspect attempted to steal vehicles in the Cranston community before driving in the wrong direction on Deerfoot Trail, heading north in the southbound lanes. Fortunately, the police were able to arrest the suspect without any injuries to other drivers.
Sushelnitsky highlighted the inherent danger caused by such actions, as they catch the public off guard and pose serious risks when traffic signals and directions are ignored. Charges against the suspect are pending as the investigation continues.