On Feb. 9, 2023, at 12:30 p.m., Wetaskiwin RCMP received a report of a vehicle that was just stolen. RCMP members located and conducted surveillance on the vehicle, where after a short time, it drove away in a dangerous manner down 49 Street in Wetaskiwin.

A short distance from where police lost sight of the vehicle, the vehicle was found abandoned. Police contained the area and the male suspect, was found trying to steal a Wetaskiwin Transit Handi-van with four people inside it. The bus driver prevented the suspect from successfully driving away, and the suspect fled from the bus and was immediately arrested by police.

“Quick thinking from the bus driver helped prevent another act of a stolen vehicle from occurring, as well as preventing kidnapping a number of people from Wetaskiwin,” says Cpl. Troy Savinkoff of the RCMP.

Johnathan Alexander Ermineskin (31),  has been charged with:

  • Theft of a Motor Vehicle (x2),
  • Driving While Disqualified
  • Dangerous Driving

Erminskin was taken before a Justice of the Peace and remanded in custody with his next court appearance set for Feb. 21, 2023, at Wetaskiwin Provincial Court.