The Edmonton Police Service continues to investigate last week’s fatal pedestrian hit and run involving a stolen truck, and is releasing video surveillance footage of the suspect in the hopes the public can help to identify the man.
The surveillance footage of the suspect was taken at a liquor store in the area of 45 Street and 118 Avenue at approximately 1:40 a.m. on Friday, June 13, 2014. Other footage was taken from a vehicle dash cam seconds after the fatal incident took place on June 13 while the suspect and stolen truck drove away from 116 A Avenue southbound on 29 Street.
The suspect is described as an Aboriginal male, in his 30s, approximately 6’0”to 6’2” in height, with a medium build, medium length brown/black hair, and may be wearing jeans, and a red and white horizontal striped shirt. While at the liquor store, the suspect was also believed to be wearing a distinctive baseball cap with a silkscreened image that says “Big Blunt – Join the Sky High Club.”
Anyone with information that can help to identify and locate this suspect is asked to contact the Edmonton Police Service at 780-423-4567 or #377 from a mobile phone. Anonymous information can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.tipsubmit.com/start.htm.
Backgound:
At approximately 8 a.m. on Friday, June 13, 2014, EPS Downtown Division Patrol officers attempted to stop a stolen Ford F-150 truck in the area of 82 Street and 120 Avenue. The truck fled at a high rate of speed northbound on 82 Street, then westbound on 120 Avenue.
The Patrol unit did not enter into a criminal flight pursuit, however, all EPS units were provided with a description of this vehicle. Later the same morning at approximately 9 a.m., EPS Northeast Division Neighbourhood Foot Patrol officers located the stolen Ford F-150 in a parking lot in the area of 32 Street and 113 Avenue. A male and female had just left the parked vehicle and were running away northbound. The officers apprehended the female with the male stealing a nearby running 2006 Dodge Ram to try and escape.
The vehicle was parked in the laneway at approximately 29 Street and 116 A Avenue. The owner attempted to prevent the theft and ultimately ended up being struck by the vehicle and dying on scene. The victim was a 33-year-old male.
The stolen truck was last seen fleeing southbound on 29 Street into Rundle Park, then exiting onto 102 Avenue. At approximately 6:30 p.m. that day, police received a call from a resident who saw the stolen truck parked in a laneway in the area of 112 Avenue and 94 Street.
The vehicle was recovered by police, however, the suspect was not located. Because of the circumstances surrounding the death, the EPS Homicide Section will take the lead role in the investigation, and will be assisted by the EPS Major Collision Investigation Unit, and the EPS Northeast and Downtown Divisions. The Edmonton Police Service has also notified the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT), which will be conducting an independent investigation of the police pursuit of the suspect.
Agencies/Canadajournal