Over 100 charges laid in city crime spree

Three men and two women held

Five people involved in a crime spree last week where a motorist was shot are collectively facing more than 100 charges, including kidnapping and possession of a prohibited weapon, police said Thursday.

The group were arrested late on March 27 when their vehicle was forced off the road by police after earlier hitting a spike belt deployed on Highway 28A north of Edmonton.

The dramatic end to the pursuit was the culmination of events that began at around 4:15 p.m. when two men were allegedly abducted at gunpoint, assaulted and robbed after a drug-related home invasion near 106 Avenue and 123 Street.

Cashton Cole L’Hirondelle, 20, and Patrick Courterielle Boyd, 22, each face more than 40 charges, including two counts of kidnapping with a firearm, seven counts of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, six counts of unauthorized possession of a firearm and ammunition in a motor vehicle and four counts of unauthorized possession of a firearm.

Two women and a third man cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act. They have been charged with several firearms offences, including possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, unauthorized possession of a prohibited weapon and possession of a prohibited weapon with ammunition.

A 38-year-old motorist who was shot remains in hospital in stable condition, police said.

Boyd and L’Hirondelle were scheduled for a bail hearing at Edmonton provincial court April 12.