Woman arrested after chase, struggle
The driver of a vehicle that crashed on Jasper Avenue early Monday while fleeing police is in the hospital with serious injuries after an arrest involving a Taser, and Alberta's police watchdog is investigating.
City police say around 3:40 a.m., an officer in a marked police car spotted a black Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck on 103A Avenue driving toward him in the wrong lane.
Bystanders flagged down the officer about a suspected impaired driver, police said in a Monday news release.
The officer tried to pull over the Silverado but it wouldn't stop, police say.
Police chased the Silverado west on Jasper Avenue after it sped off, and the truck crashed into a light pole and tree on the west curb while trying to turn north on 124 Street.
“Due to the concern for public safety, given the operator's driving patterns, the officer pursued the vehicle,” police said in a news release.
The driver, a woman, attempted to get out of the truck and run away, but the officer approached the vehicle and caught and arrested her using a conductive energy weapon in the process, police said.
“While attempting to take the suspect into custody, a struggle ensued, and the officer deployed his conductive energy weapon (CEW) to gain control,” reads the release.
Drugs and firearms were allegedly found inside the Silverado.
Paramedics treated the woman on site and she was sent to hospital in serious but stable condition. The truck's two passengers were not injured.
ASIRT is investigating the arrest because of the injuries to the driver, while Edmonton Police Service (EPS) continues the dangerous driving investigation. EPS says it won't be commenting further due to ASIRT'S investigation.
Jasper Avenue was closed for several hours between 123 and 124 streets Monday morning following the crash and arrest.