Bill Kaufmann (Calgary Sun) - Mounties have charged a Saskatchewan man with attempted murder after he allegedly rammed an RCMP officer — and attempted to mow down two more.
Along with three counts of attempted murder, Kenneth Janzen, 24, of Saskatoon, is also charged with kidnapping in the Wednesday incident that saw a four-year RCMP veteran seriously injured when a motorist first chased by police in Red Deer avoided a spike belt laid by the injured Mountie just north of Innisfail on the QE II Hwy.
After the Mountie was hit, police continued to pursue the suspect car, which hit a second spike belt south of Olds, went out of control and rolled.
Mounties allege the rollover was caused when the suspect vehicle attempted to hit the two officers laying the spike belt.
Two people in the car were captured, treated for minor injuries and remain in police custody.
Subsequent investigation let to the kidnapping charge, Mounties said.
The woman, who was a passenger in the vehicle, was known to the other occupant.
Janzen is also charged with criminal flight causing bodily harm, failure to stop at the scene of a collision, criminal flight from police and obstructing a police officer.
Mounties said the incident began just outside Red Deer, where a man was throwing rocks at cars and jumping into traffic on the QE II Hwy. When police officers approached him, he fled in his car.
Though Calgary police no longer conduct pursuits or use a spike belt, Cpl. Kathe Deheer of Red Deer RCMP defended both practices.
“We take into account public safety on Hwy. 2 and it’s a busy highway,” said Deheer, adding the future of both policies won’t be reviewed.
“The spike belt worked, it’s a very safe device.”
Janzen appeared yesterday in Red Deer provincial court, sobbing uncontrollably.
2 responses so far ↓
1 J-rebel // Aug 14, 2008 at 19:12
Can you imagine the outpouring of responses this would have gotten if this was a police car responding to a call and injured a civilian! But no one responds because apparently most people believe the mounties are expendable. Throw the book at ‘em!
2 Deepthroat // Aug 14, 2008 at 22:01
The criminal element know full well who will pursue them and who will not. By not engaging in pursuits, you will never know why the felon is fleeing or from what, and your chances of any conviction without getting him cold are nil. Obviously precautions have to be taken but accidents still happen even if the cops do everything by the policies laid out.
I see Calgary has taken the path of least resistance and basically allows criminals to run.
Sure the cops are expendable, just like the courts think its alright and part of the job for them to be assaulted. A sad commentary on our legal system.
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