The RCMP have charged two people following an incident that saw a brief pursuit with a male in a stolen vehicle, and the firing of a shotgun.

On October 14, at 7:47 a.m., the Sylvan Lake RCMP received a complaint that a truck was stolen from a location in Eckville. Rocky Mountain House RCMP members  located the truck on Highway 54 near Caroline. 

The RCMP were following the truck when it made a U-turn on the highway and attempted to ram the police vehicle.  A pursuit was initiated. The Rocky Mountain House Crime Reduction Unit was on scene to assist and a tire deflation device was successfully used on the stolen truck.  The driver of the truck continued to attempt to evade police by intentionally crashing through a gate, then getting stuck on a lease site.  The male driver exited the truck and discharged a round from a shotgun. The driver was taken into custody by Rocky Mountain House RCMP.  The female passenger was also taken into custody.

There were no resulting injuries to anyone and no police vehicles damaged during this incident. A loaded 12-guage pump action shotgun with a sawed off barrel was seized from the scene. A search of the truck led the RCMP to seize several pieces of stolen identification and credit cards believed to be from thefts across central Alberta.

At the time of his arrest the driver, James Patrick Metzger (34), known to police, was found to have several outstanding arrest warrants originating from various detachments in central Alberta.

As a result of this incident, Metzger is facing numerous charges including:

  • firearm and weapons offences,
  • possession of a controlled substance,
  • dangerous operation of a motor vehicle,
  • possession of a stolen vehicle,
  • possession of stolen property,
  • unlawful possession of stolen identity documents, and
  • failing to comply with various court orders.

Danielle Bishop (28), the female passenger, is also facing numerous charges related to this and other incidents.

 Bishop is scheduled to appear on October 19 and Metzger on November 18, 2020. 

“An incident like this highlights the inherent dangers our RCMP members face on a daily basis” says Sergeant Trevor Shea, the Operations NCO of Rocky Mountain House Detachment. “I am pleased with how our members responded and how swiftly this dynamic event was resolved with no resulting injuries to anyone.”