Carjacking suspect arrested

Calgary woman accused of using replica firearm to commandeer SUV

A woman was arrested and charged in connection with a carjacking in northeast Calgary last week in which a passenger was briefly driven around in a stolen SUV before being dropped off unharmed.

Police say a support worker and her passenger, who has a medical condition, were in a Toyota RAV4 SUV at around 10: 10 a. m. on April 1 in the parking lot of Marlborough Mall at 3800 Memorial Dr. N. E. when they were approached by a woman asking for directions.

The woman then brandished a gun, which turned out to be a replica handgun, and ordered the support worker, who was behind the wheel, out of the vehicle.

The woman then jumped into the driver’s seat and drove off before the passenger had a chance to get out. About 15 minutes later, the passenger was forced out of the vehicle near the 5000 block of Marbank Drive N. E.

Paramedics assessed both the passenger, a woman in her late 40s, and the support worker, a woman in her early 20s.

Neither was injured.

It’s believed the carjacking was a “crime of opportunity,” said Staff Sgt. Geoff Gawlinski.

After various sightings and tips from the public, police spotted the stolen RAV4 at about 12: 15 a. m. Tuesday on Riverfront Avenue, said Gawlinski, adding marked units started setting up points to intercept the SUV.

“The vehicle had a bit of a flat tire and she had trouble negotiating a turn,” Gawlinski said. “She collided into a barrier in the 1400 block of Memorial Drive N. W. and caused light damage to the vehicle.”

After a brief foot chase, the female driver was arrested by police. A male passenger who was in the vehicle is not facing any charges in connection with the carjacking, Gawlinski added.

Officers also found a pellet gun in the vehicle.

Crystie Dawn Turbuck, 32, of Calgary, was charged with two counts of a robbery roll job ( or personal robbery), theft of a motor vehicle, theft under $ 5,000, two counts of pointing a firearm, kidnapping, assault, possession of a weapon or imitation for a dangerous purpose, and possession of a weapon contrary to a prohibition order stemming from an out- of- province drug charge.

Turbuck has four outstanding criminal code warrants.

According to Alberta Justice, she has charges dating back to 2001.

She remains in custody and is expected to appear in court this coming Tuesday.

Gawlinski said Turbuck was also charged in connection with a gas drive- off from Monday in the 6400 block of Centre Street North.

He said the RAV4 will be returned to the driver. Both the driver and the passenger appear to be doing well considering the circumstances, he added.

The vehicle had a bit of a flat tire and she had trouble negotiating a turn.