Manfacing 20 charges to seek release
A34-year-old man facing nearly 20 charges in connection with a police chase near Vulcan last month may seek his release from custody when he returns to court next month. Tyrone Michael Emblau made a brief appearance Wednesday in Lethbridge provincial court where his lawyer requested an adjournment to May 10 so he can prepare for his client’s bail hearing. But even if Emblau is released on the recent charges, he could be detained on charges out of Medicine Hat and Calgary.
Court was told the Crown wants to revoke bail Emblau was previously granted on those matters.
Emblau, who appeared in court by closedcircuit TV from the Lethbridge Correctional Centre, was arrested March 21 after Vulcan RCMP responded to a report that a snowmobile had been stolen from a location near the Village of Champion at about 5:15 a.m. that day. Residents who witnessed the offence directed an officer to a suspect who was found hauling the stolen snowmobile with a stolen Nissan truck.
An officer pulled the driver over, but following a brief struggle the suspect escaped. Additional RCMP officers followed the truck, until it became stuck in a field. The driver took off again, this time on the snowmobile and was chased by other officers, also on snowmobiles.
A Calgary police helicopter pilot eventually spotted the snowmobile where it had become stuck in a stand of trees several kilometres from the abandoned truck and trailer. A police dog tracked the suspect and he was arrested, then taken to hospital and treated for injuries sustained when he crashed into a tree with the snowmobile.
Police learned the pickup truck had been stolen from Okotoks and the trailer had been taken from Taber. The licence plate on the truck had been stolen from Creston, B.C.
At the time of Emblau's arrest, he was wanted on 29 warrants from different police detachments.
Emblau faces 18 charges in relation to the chase, including criminal charges of assaulting a peace officer, flight from police, dangerous driving and possession of stolen property over $5,000. He also faces several charges under the Traffic Safety Act