Police appeal for help after officer struck by stolen truck

A 10-year veteran Calgary police officer is at home recovering, weeks after being seriously injured when he was hit by a stolen truck.

Around 3 a.m. on Aug. 18, 2018, the officer was patrolling the 200 block of Legacy Boulevard S.E. on a suspicious persons call. When he approached a white Ford F-150, the driver fled in the truck, striking the officer.

Calgary police Supt. Ryan Ayliffe said the service wouldn’t comment on the types of injuries the officer sustained but said he has been in contact with the officer, who is “very resilient” and is expected to return to duty.

“This is a tragic scenario for us. It would be just as tragic if it was a citizen, an innocent victim,” said Ayliffe.

“In this case, it’s tough on our organization because it’s one of the members, but that doesn’t change how we respond to it.”

The truck, which police believe was stolen 10 days before, was found abandoned in the southwest community of Evergreen. Police say the truck had prominent decals on its doors removed, and its licence plate had been swapped numerous times.

Investigators are awaiting results from a full forensic analysis conducted on the truck, which they hope will assist in identifying the suspect. He is described as a Caucasian in his 20s, with a slim build and brown hair.

Ayliffe said the stolen truck was believed to have been used in other offences from the time it was stolen on Aug. 8 to when it struck the officer on Aug. 18.

“We are going through the investigative process, like any other investigation; there’s newer steps that are complex,” said Ayliffe.

“We’ve gotten to a point now where we feel … the city of Calgary can assist us, so we want to access that. When we are looking at this investigation, we are not simply trying to find out who injured the officer. There’s numerous (other) victims because of this offender — property victims, potentially other assaults.”

Police believe a small red hatchback was used to pick up the suspect after the truck was abandoned.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Calgary Police Service at 403-266-1234 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

DARREN MAKOWICHUK/FILES Police investigate a truck that was dumped in August in Evergreen. It’s believed the pickup was involved in an incident in which an officer was injured.