A Red Deer man is in custody after the stolen truck he was in struck a vehicle and was then abandoned by the occupants, who fled the scene on foot; he was located shortly after in a residential yard and was arrested by a Police Service Dog team.

Red Deer RCMP received the report of a hit and run in the Normandeau neighbourhood at 8:20 pm on December 20. No one was injured in the collision but the occupants of the truck fled the scene on foot. Police attended and began an immediate search for the suspects. The RCMP helicopter was in the area and assisted members in the search. Within minutes, RCMP received a report of a suspicious male in a residential yard on Northey Avenue. Police Dog Services located the suspect and took him into custody without incident.

The stolen truck was further linked to a gas and dash and shoplifting incident at a gas station earlier the same day; the staff member confronted the suspects and was able to retrieve stolen property, but the truck fled with over $100 worth of unpaid fuel. The truck had been reported stolen out of Red Deer earlier the same day.

33 year old James Ronald Holt faces the following charges:

  • Criminal Code 355(a) – Possession of stolen property over $5,000
  • Criminal Code 450(b) – Possession of counterfeit currency (Canadian $100)
  • Criminal Code 266 – Assault
  • Criminal Code 334 – Theft of fuel

Holt was also wanted on an outstanding warrant at the time of his arrest. He will appear in court in Red Deer at 9:30 am on December 21.

Red Deer RCMP continue to investigate, and thank the public for their assistance in locating the first suspect. If you have information about this series of events, please contact the Red Deer RCMP at 403-343-5575. If you wish to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or report it online at www.tipsubmit.com.