Two suspects are in custody following an early morning crime spree on October 6, 2017. At 8:15 a.m., Thorsby/Breton RCMP received a call of a gas and dash involving a school bus. It was immediately determined that the suspect school bus had been stolen on October 4 from the area of Rimbey.

Following this incident, Thorsby/Breton RCMP received a call that a man was robbed after he stopped to assist the stationary school bus on Highway 22. A suspect male carrying a knife stole the man's Dodge picker truck. The suspect subsequently entered a gas station and allegedly stole cigarettes before fleeing the scene.

RCMP from the Thorsby/Bretton and Rock Mountain House Detachments converged on the scene and located the stolen Dodge truck on Highway 22. The suspect vehicle failed to stop for the police but was soon disabled using a tire deflation device.

When the suspect's vehicle was disabled he attempted to gain entry into another civilian vehicle. In the process of attempting to steal the civilian's car, the civilian driver suffered a stab wound. RCMP members were able to intervene and took the male suspect into custody. A female associate of the suspect was also arrested in the stolen Dodge truck.

Both adult suspects are currently in custody in Rocky Mountain House RCMP detachment.

Jason BRYANTON (36) of Rimbey, AB, has been charged with the following:

Rocky Mountain House offences:

- Robbery (knife)
- Flight from police
- Possession of Stolen Property
- Assault with a weapon
- Assault Police Officer
- Resist Arrest
- Dangerous Operation of a Motor Vehicle
- Possession of a Weapon Dangerous to Public
- Drive Disqualified

Thorsby offences:

- Theft under $5000 x 2
- Possession of Stolen Property over $5000
- Robbery is a weapon (knife)
- Possession of a Weapon Dangerous to Public
- Mischief under $5000
- Drive Disqualified

Rimbey offences:

- Possession of Stolen Property over $5000 (offence date 2017-10-04)
- Drive Disqualified (offence date 2017-10-04)
- Uttering Threats
- Mischief over $5000

Shari CONNOLLY (37) has been charged with the following offences:

- Robbery
- Flight from police
- Possession stolen property
- Fail to comply with Undertaking

The civilian driving the Dodge picker truck was not injured. The civilian driving the (second) car received a minor cut and was attended to by EMS on scene.

“The outcome of these circumstances is a positive one in that we had both subjects located and in custody fairly quickly after the start of events this morning” says Sergeant Cory Kyle of the Thorsby/Breton RCMP. “We appreciate the assistance of several members of the public who provided us timely information and allowed us to successfully do our job.”