On June 16, 2019, at approximately 7:45 a.m. Melfort RCMP received several reports of a dangerous driver who was knocking over street signs in the east end of Melfort. The streets were busy with residents as there was a baseball tournament underway near where the driver was spotted.
Officers located the vehicle and observed it driving at a high rate of speed. Officers activated their lights and sirens and caught up with the vehicle heading west on Highway 3 towards Prince Albert.
Once on the highway, the suspect vehicle sped up to 150 kilometers per hour and police then pursued the vehicle. Additional officers joined the pursuit and the suspect vehicle was rendered useless when it was driven into a field. The officers were then able to apprehend the lone occupant without incident.
As a result, 24-year-old Justin Umperville of Beatty, Saskatchewan has been charged with:
· Impaired driving – Section 320.14(1)(a) of the Criminal Code
· Theft of a motor vehicle – Section 333.1(1) of the Criminal Code
· Break and enter – Section 348(1)(a) of the Criminal Code
· Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle – Section 320.13(1) of the Criminal Code
· Flight from police – Section 320.17 of the Criminal Code
· Mischief Under $5000 – Section 430(3) of the Criminal Code
· Drive While Prohibited – Sec 320.18 of the Criminal Code
· Theft Under $5000 – Sec 334(b) Of the Criminal Code
He is scheduled to appear in Melfort Provincial court on June 20, 2019.
