BOW VALLEY – A high speed chase that started near Banff, resulting in RCMP using a spike belt near Highway 22 and the Trans-Canada Highway, ended with an arrest near Cochrane Tuesday night (Nov. 12).
According to an RCMP press release, the incident began around 8:45 p.m. when a member of the RCMP traffic unit attempted to pull over a vehicle for a traffic offence on the Trans-Canada Highway near Bourgeau Trailhead west of Banff. The driver pulled off to the side, only to immediately drive away before the officer could speak to them.
Shortly after, RCMP located the vehicle near Canmore, travelling eastbound in the westbound lane. RCMP officials said several attempts to stop the vehicle were unsuccessful.
"A pursuit was initiated due to the high risk that the driver was posing to the public," Canmore RCMP Sgt. Stan Andronyk wrote in a press release.
"The pursuit continued eastbound, where the suspect vehicle switched back and forth from the eastbound and westbound lanes a number of times."
Utilizing RCMP from several jurisdictions, including Traffic Services, Canmore, Cochrane and Police Dog Services, a spike belt was deployed at the intersection of Highway 22 and the Trans-Canada Highway resulting in popped tires and the driver swerving directly at the RCMP officers.
The vehicle continued a short distance driving eastbound in the westbound lanes before being brought to a stop.
Kenneth Bustard, 25, who was driving from British Columbia, was arrested and taken into custody.
Bustard is facing several charges including dangerous driving, flight from police, driving while disqualified, assaulting a police officer with a weapon and breach of recognizance.
He is scheduled to have a bail hearing at the Calgary Courthouse on Friday (Nov. 15).
