Police chase suspect looking for new lawyer

MAN FACING NEARLY 20 CHARGES

A 34-year-old man facing nearly 20 charges in connection with a police chase near Vulcan in March is still seeking new counsel after recently having his trial cancelled.

Tyrone Michael Emblau advised the court through duty counsel on Friday he had not yet retained his new lawyer after parting ways with his previous attorney on Oct. 29, at the time citing a breakdown in the solicitor-client relationship.

Emblau asked that his case be adjourned until Nov. 19 as he continues to seek a new lawyer.

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. He was previously denied bail. Emblau was arrested March 21 after Vulcan RCMP responded to a report that a snowmobile had been stolen 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 snowmobile with a stolen pickup 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 reported the 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.