Stolen tractor police chase ends with apprehension of two suspects

It is a first for Barrhead RCMP Detachment Commander Sgt. Bob Dodds.

He said over his long career in the RCMP he has never seen a police chase with a tractor before.

“When I was stationed in northern B.C. in Fort St. John we once pursued a front-end loader, but this is the first time, I have personally heard of a farm tractor,” he said, about a police chase and subsequent arrest of two Mayerthorpe individuals on Saturday, Oct. 28.

The incident started at about 1:45 p.m. in Tiger Lily when Barrhead RCMP responded to a report of suspicious persons at a rural property in the Tiger Lily area.

When officers arrived on scene they discovered that a man and woman had arrived at the property driving in a stolen vehicle and left on foot after Mounties were called.

RCMP officers patrolled the area and spotted two people matching the description walking on Highway 655.

The suspects took off and the woman was caught following a short foot chase.

The male evaded arrest, travelling through the bush, eventually stealing a tractor from a farmer’s field.

The RCMP said a patrol then spotted the male on the tractor and they attempted to set up a roadblock at which time the suspect used the front-end loader to ram and disable a police vehicle.

Barrhead RCMP then requested additional help from the Mayerthorpe and Westlock detachments and alerted oncoming motorists of the oncoming machinery. After 45 minutes, the suspect allegedly attempted to avoid another roadblock by driving into the ditch where the tractor got stuck and the man was arrested.

Both suspects are from Mayerthorpe and have been remanded into custody.

Amber Lorraine Smith, 41, is charged with possession of property obtained by crime and resisting arrest. She is scheduled to appear in Westlock provincial court on Nov. 1.

Craig Morris Benson, 41, is charged with assaulting a peace officer, resisting arrest, theft over $5,000, possession of property obtained by crime, flight from police, mischief and failing to remain at the scene of an accident. He is scheduled to appear in Barrhead provincial court on Nov. 14.

“It is also a reminder how dangerous our job as police officers can be and the potential risk our members put themselves in our efforts to protect the public,” Dodds said. “We are very fortunate that no one was hurt in this incident.”