July 31, 2020

Airdrie RCMP QEII Traffic Unit on scene of collision on QEII – Update #2

Carstairs, Alta. –  On July 29, 2020 at 7:21 a.m., Didsbury RCMP responded to an incident of a suspicious person in a vehicle outside of a residence in Carstairs. The adult male was located and fled on foot when police arrived.

The suspect then broke into a nearby residence and started a van in the attached garage. Police were in the driver’s seat attempting to remove the suspect while the van exited the garage at a high rate of speed, striking the garage. The suspect broke free from police and fled Carstairs eastbound on Highway 581 and continued southbound on Highway 2.

Additional RCMP units from Innisfail, Olds and Airdrie were called to assist as the suspect was crossing the center median and travelling southbound in the northbound lane which forced multiple civilian vehicles to leave the roadway and avoid head-on collisions.

A roadblock was set up by police on the northbound traffic lane near the Highway 72 overpass. The suspect continued southbound in the northbound lane and upon nearing the roadblock made an evasive move, colliding with several police vehicles before entered the ditch. He was arrested without incident and was assessed at the scene by EMS. Police transported the suspect to the hospital for further assessment as a precaution.

Three RCMP officers were assessed at scene by EMS. Two had suffered minor injuries; however, they were not transported to hospital.

Kyle Robert Meckler (35) of Sylvan Lake, Alta., has been charged with 18 Criminal Code offences and two offences under the Traffic Safety Act:

• Break and enter into a dwelling
• Attempted theft of a motor vehicle
• Possession of stolen property over $5000
• Dangerous operation of a conveyance (x2)
• Operation while prohibited
• Flight from peace officer
• Fail to stop after accident
• Resist arrest
• Escape lawful custody
• Fail to comply with conditions (x8)
• Operate uninsured motor vehicle (TSA) (x2)

Following a judicial hearing, Meckler was remanded into custody and will be appearing in Calgary Provincial Court today.

As this matter is now before the courts no further information will be released.

Didsbury RCMP are asking anyone who may have dash cam footage related to this incident to please contact Didsbury RCMP at 403-335-3381 or your local police. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), online at www.P3Tips.com or by using the “P3 Tips” app available through the Apple App or Google Play Store.

Read more on Todayville Calgary.