Police nab man in fatal hit-and-run
Two home break-ins during dramatic 20-minute chase
The suspect in a hit-and-run that left a father of two dead outside his home earlier this month was arrested Monday morning following a dramatic police chase.
During the chase that lasted about 20 minutes, Jonathan Jake Cardinal, 31, allegedly broke into two homes, diving through a glass patio door at one apartment and stealing car keys from a condominium.
He was apprehended just after 10:10 a.m. after being tracked by the Edmonton Police Service Canine Unit and downtown division officers.
“Obviously we’re very pleased with today’s results,” Acting Staff Sgt. Scott Carter told media Monday afternoon. “I think we’re all relieved that he’s in custody and no longer poses any threat to the public.”
Cardinal was wanted on a Canada-wide warrant for manslaughter, criminal negligence causing death, failing to stop at the scene of an accident, and theft over $5,000. The fatality happened outside the Parkridge Estates townhouse complex in Edmonton’s Beverly neighbourhood June 13, as Adam Groves, a 33-year-old business owner, attempted to stop someone from stealing his work truck.
The events that ended with Cardinal’s arrest began Monday morning when police responded to a report of an unconscious man in a vehicle at 86th Street and 106th Avenue. An officer approached the vehicle, which was confirmed as stolen, and roused the man. He was suspected of being intoxicated by drugs or alcohol, police say.
The man fled from the officer, who was working alone. A second police car was just arriving.
Cardinal allegedly fled on foot and broke into two residential suites, first smashing through a glass patio door at Boardwalk Centre at 8820 Jasper Ave. and entering an unoccupied suite. He injured his arms and scalp, Carter said.
He continued to evade police, entering a second residential suite and stealing car keys. A woman was upstairs at the time but did not have contact with him.
Police say the suspect was tracked by Const. Chris Deluca and his service dog Viper.
Cardinal was arrested outside the Jasper Properties condominium complex at 9020 Jasper Ave. and taken to hospital with non-lifethreatening injuries, including injuries from allegedly breaking the patio door and a “superficial injury” to his thigh from the police dog.
Shortly after the arrest Monday morning, a police car remained parked outside Jasper Properties, its back end covered with blood.
Jenaya Ramcharan, who watched the initial scene unfold from her sixth-floor apartment, said the suspect “fought back and ran” after an officer tried to arrest him.
“His shirt got pulled off and he started running, and they started chasing him on foot,” she said.
Ramcharan said she called 911. She was concerned about the safety of children at a daycare on the building’s main floor, as well as at Mother Teresa Elementary School, across the street.
Believing the man had exited the building, she left her apartment. “I went to the school and told them to watch the windows, to keep an eye out for him,” she said.
Witness Chris Ryan said he was in a vehicle when he saw a man running from police. Ryan and a friend got out of their vehicle and started to chase the man.
“He was hiding behind the Boardwalk building and then he head-butted a first floor apartment window,” Ryan said.
On Monday afternoon, Carter thanked members of the public for helping police apprehend Cardinal.
“We received many calls at the time, during this event, from the public who were witnessing our attempts to take Mr. Cardinal into custody. We really appreciate that,” Carter said.
Curtis Kish, who lives on the 10th floor of Jasper Properties, saw a man crouched in the building’s courtyard.
Kish did not see how the suspect entered the gated complex.
“He was hiding behind a bush, all covered in blood, with no shirt on,” Kish said. “The dog got him and he was screaming.”
Cardinal’s face and body were covered with a white sheet when he was taken into an ambulance outside Jasper Properties.
Carter said he was covered because he was bleeding “quite a bit.”
Following Monday’s events, police say Cardinal will likely face additional charges.
Cardinal was named by police as the suspect in Groves’ death June 19.
Groves’ death is the 12th homicide and 12th traffic fatality in Edmonton this year.
Groves had a four-yearold daughter, Harmony; and seven-year-old son, Harley. His wife, Jolene, witnessed his death.