Auto theft-related charges laid after Calgary officer-involved shooting

Calgary police have laid auto theft-related charges against three people involved in a car chase and officer-involved shooting earlier this week.

On Thursday evening, a 22-year veteran Calgary Police Service officer shot one of the three suspects after chasing a Dodge Ram pickup truck spotted earlier in Ogden in the city's southeast. The truck was allegedly stolen.

The officer has been placed on a 30-day administrative leave and Alberta Serious Incident Response Team is investigating.

Now officers have laid charges against the three people suspected in the auto theft case, according to a media release issued Saturday.

Brady AndrewGillingham, 33, has beencharged with possessingproperty obtained by crime over $5,000, assaulting a peace officer with a weapon, dangerously operating amotor vehicle while being pursued by a peace officer, as well as several other charges.

Cole StuartMcLean, 30, has been charged with dangerously operatingof a motor vehicle,possessing property obtained by crime over $5,000, possessingproperty obtained by crime under $5,000, driving anuninsuredvehicle, failing to wear a seatbelt, as well as several other charges.

Darby Jackson Benedict, 22, has been charged with possessionof property obtained by crime over $5,000 andpossessingproperty obtained by crime under $5,000, failingfailure to wear a seatbelt, and several other charges.

Driver shot

At about 6 p.m. MT on Thursday, officers noticed the reportedly stolen truck and tracked it using a tactical unit and HAWCS helicopter for four and a half hours.

Police say the truck stopped in Auburn Bayat a house with people gathered in the garage.

At about 10:30 p.m., two people, who police say were in the truck earlier that day, left the home in the truck. They drove over a spike belt, puncturing the front right tire.

After driving a short distance, the truck stopped and its occupants got into another allegedly stolen vehicle, a Toyota Highlander.

That's when the officer shot his gun, hitting the driver of the Highlander.

The driver was arrested and taken to hospital in stable condition. Two other suspects fled but were caught a short distance away and also arrested.

In the statement issued Saturday, CPS said the service would not comment further as the shooting is under investigation.

Calgary's deputy police chiefBob Ritchie told media on Friday that the officers did a good job preventing an already dangerous situation from getting out of control.

Two of the suspects, a man and a woman, had been wanted in connection with a series of car prowlingsthe day before. A weapon was involved in these so called prowlings, hesaid.

All three are due to appear in court next week.

• MORE ALBERTA NEWS | Dashcam video captures escalating road rage between motorists
• MORE ALBERTA NEWS |4 people connected to Alberta outlaw motorcycle club arrested on kidnapping charges
• Read more articles by CBC Calgary, like us on Facebook for updates and subscribe to our CBC Calgary newsletterfor the day's news at a glance.