Tractor thief sentenced

The man who led police on a 45-minute chase, that involved the theft of a tractor and a high-risk takedown faces close to three years in jail and a massive restitution order.

In Barrhead Provincial Court March 13, Craig Morris Benson pleaded guilty to evading police, causing mischief to property, failing to stop at the scene of an accident and two counts of possession of stolen property. He was sentenced by Judge Bruce Garriock to 29 months in jail and ordered to pay back more than $18,000 in restitution, in addition to a five-year driving ban.

“I’m sorry. I know farmers are good people and I didn’t mean to cause that much damage. If I scared the officer, I’m sorry for that as well,” Benson said.

Court heard on Oct. 27, 2017, Barrhead RCMP received a report of a suspicious truck on Highway 655.

“The complainant reported a man and woman asked to have the truck towed to his shop but once it was there, the complainant noted that both the ignition had been punched out and the door lock was broken. The pair stated they were waiting for a friend from Vegreville and began walking along Highway 655,” Crown prosecutor Jeff Morrison said, noting that Barrhead RCMP officers attended and located both individuals.

“Officers got out of their vehicle and began talking to them and during the course of the conversation, both individuals fled. Const. [David] Donovan chased after the man while Const. [Natalie] Tung after the woman.”

After a short foot pursuit, Morrison said Tung was able to apprehend the woman and she was placed in the back of the cruiser. However, Const. Donovan lost sight of his suspect during his own pursuit and Const. Tung went to help.

The woman, identified as Amber Smith, had outstanding warrants.

“Officers Donovan and Tung continued to patrol the area while the man, as yet unidentified, was still at large,” Morrison said, adding that shortly after that, a witness in the area confirmed sighting of a man going through an adjacent hay field.

“Const. Tung traveled in the direction provided but was unable to locate. A little while later, she noted the man crossing the highway into another field and gave pursuit. He ignored all verbal commands and Tung lost sight of him again. She returned to her vehicle and continued to patrol the area.”

Benson was sighted driving a stolen tractor down Highway 655 in an erratic manner and causing traffic problems, Morrison said, noting while Const. Tung was able to make eye contact with the driver and instructed him to pull over, Benson refused.

Five minutes later, with a tractor trailer approaching from the oncoming lane and Benson making no move to stop, Const. Tung pulled ahead of the tractor and attempted to force a stop, Morrison said.

It was at this point that Benson rammed the cruiser.

“It took a combined effort of law enforcement from Mayerthorpe, Westlock and Barrhead to end the chase after 45 minutes. In the end, the tractor got stuck in a ditch and officers were able to perform a high-risk takedown of Benson at that time,” Morrison added.