Male arrested following assault, attempted theft of police vehicle

Edmonton Police Service > Newsroom > Media Releases > Male arrested following assault, attempted theft of police vehicle

Male arrested following assault, attempted theft of police vehicle

On Monday, Aug. 19, 2024, at approximately 8:20 a.m. West Branch patrol officers responded to the area of 107 Avenue and 149 Street for the report of a male driver and female passenger passed out and unresponsive in a red Kia Optima sedan. When the driver awoke, he attempted to flee and rammed the responding police vehicles multiple times. After exiting the vehicle, the male then entered a nearby marked police vehicle and attempted to drive away.

Officers were able to quickly enter the police cruiser and prevent the male from fleeing. While inside the vehicle, he resisted arrest and assaulted an officer attempting to take him into custody. Officers eventually removed him from the police vehicle and placed him under arrest. During a search of the Kia sedan, investigators located drugs and ammunition.

The male suspect and one of the responding officers were transported to hospital by EMS as a precaution. Both have been released from hospital and the male has since been remanded.

Wilfred Hardy, 35,has since been charged with mischief, assault with a weapon, resist arrest and possession for the purpose of trafficking. The 28-year-old female passenger was also taken into custody, without incident, for multiple outstanding warrants and has since been remanded.

The EPS Northwest Investigative Response Team (IRT) continues to investigate. Intoxication is believed to be a factor in this incident.

"The incident illustrates the dynamic and often dangerous situations faced by our officers which require quick thinking and immediate action," says Staff Sergeant Michael Dreilich with the EPS Northwest IRT team. "Impaired driving puts the public at significant risk, and we are pleased that our members acted quickly and took the necessary steps to successfully prevent this suspect from driving away and putting others in harms way."