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Motorcyclist evades police, then runs out of gas

Members of the Ponoka Integrated Traffic Unit were able to catch a speeding motorcyclist last week after he ran out of gas.
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A Suzuki motorcycle sits in a farmer’s field after the owner fled from officers with the Ponoka Integrated Traffic Unit last week. He was caught after his bike ran out of gas.

Members of the Ponoka Integrated Traffic Unit were able to catch a speeding motorcyclist last week after he ran out of gas.

Officers received a call that a motorcycle was weaving in and out of traffic southbound on Highway 2 April 14 at high rates of speed. An attempt to stop the biker proved futile as it was reported to be travelling in excess of 200 km/h.

The biker, a 22-year-old man from Prince Edward Island, then exited on Highway 53 eastbound and was clocked at 180 km/h but turned around when he saw officers. He was riding a Suzuki 1,000 CC motorbike and was able to accelerate at fast rates, which made stopping him a challenge.

No pursuit was issued but police followed at a distance as the man is reported to have crossed the median at the Highway 54 exit to then travel southbound on Highway 2 again.

Officers saw the bike take the westbound exit on Gee Road where he was reported to travel at speeds of 160 km/h on a gravel road.

Officers caught up with the biker after he ran out of gas in a farmer’s field. He was found in a corral full of horses where he turned himself into police. The man received charges of dangerous driving, flight from police, theft of a license plate and two counts of possession of a controlled substance.

The plate was stolen and modified to look like a motorcycle license plate. He also received six tickets under the Traffic Safety Act.

Alberta’s traffic unit now has a Twitter account. Follow them at @QEIITraffic for updates on Highway 2.

Motorist fails to stop at intersection

A motorist has lost his car for 30 days after he failed to stop at an intersection on Baker Road and Menaik Road.

Police handed in a 38-year-old man from Maskwacis with a 24-hour-suspension penalty after he showed signs of impairment April 18 at 3 a.m. He failed to pull over for 2 kilometres after officers activated their emergency lights.

The man was northbound on Baker Road and had five passengers in the car and is reported to have bought a trunk full of liquor.

Damage to windshield

Police are investigating damage to a windshield overnight of April 19. Culprits may have thrown rocks or used a pellet gun at the window of a 1987 Chevy pickup on the 5400 Block of 56 Street. There are no suspects.

Threatening text at high school

A youth is facing charges of uttering threats after sending a threatening text to a fellow student last week. The event occurred at Ponoka Secondary Campus and the school recourse officer was involved in the investigation.

There was no lockdown and no actual weapons were on hand.

Unknown male enters vehicle

A fight ensued April 16 at 2:30 a.m. in the downtown area after a man entered another man’s car and started hitting the driver.

Police stepped in to stop the fight and the incident is under investigation. It is unknown why the man entered the vehicle.

Unsafe vehicle taken off the road

Members of the Ponoka Traffic Unit stopped the driver of a 1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse April 16 at 9:30 a.m. after passing officers on Highway 2.

The driver, a 21-year-old man from Calgary, was pulled over near Menaik Road where it was determined he had warrants for his arrest.

His vehicle was in such a state that officers deemed it unsafe to drive on the road as the fender was almost falling off and wires and cables were unprotected in the interior.

Emergency units search for missing senior

Police received a call that an elderly man suffering from dementia was missing last week and with the help of the Ponoka Fire Department began a search for the man.

They patrolled the river valley and other areas around Ponoka. The man was found near Morningside hitchhiking but was in good health and unharmed.

Ponoka RCMP and received 70 calls for service last week.

If you have information on any crime call Ponoka RCMP at 403-783-4472 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

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