Two Alberta men face a slew of charges after a police chase in a stolen pickup truck on Tuesday.
RCMP pulled over the vehicle at around 4 p.m. speeding eastbound on Highway 1 near Oak Lake, Manitoba. The truck was clocked going well over 150 km/h.
Before an officer — who had discovered the vehicle was stolen — could approach the driver, he took off. The truck drove through the median ditch and into ongoing traffic on Highway 1 on the opposite side of the roadway.
The officer ended the pursuit, but followed at a safe distance.
The truck then turned onto a gravel road, lost control and swerved into a ditch full of water after officers from the Virden RCMP detachment attempted to stop it. The truck came to a rest near Road 50N and Road 143 West.
Both the driver and passenger were arrested, but gave false names to police. They were eventually identified as Joseph Kardelis, 32, and Jake Pinder, 22, both from Alberta.
Police found a loaded pistol and a sawed-off pellet gun made to look like a sawed-off rifle inside the vehicle.
Both men face several charges and had warrants out for their arrest in another province.
“This was a very dangerous situation for our officers and for the public,” said Sgt. Mark Hume.
“The rapid and professional response of our officers throughout the incident was critical to the safe apprehension of two armed and wanted individuals who appeared to have no regard for public safety.”
The suspects were scheduled to appear in Brandon court on Wednesday and remain in custody.
