A Regina man who led police on a cross-border pursuit from Saskatchewan into Alberta has been sentenced to 180 days in jail.
Jeffrey Thomas McLean, 41, was sentenced June 13 in Drumheller Court of Justice after being convicted of flight from police, driving while prohibited, and possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000. With credit for time already served, McLean has 98 days remaining in custody.
The charges stem from an incident on April 20, when Kindersley RCMP alerted their Alberta counterparts in Oyen about a stolen Ford F-350 truck that had crossed the provincial border. Oyen RCMP located the vehicle on Township Road 310, but the driver fled through a field before abandoning the truck and escaping on foot.
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A large-scale search followed, involving multiple RCMP detachments, Police Dog Services, and aerial support using Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems.
The manhunt continued into April 21, when officers received tips from residents in Esther, Alta., approximately 40 kilometres east of Oyen. Witnesses reported sightings of a man matching McLean’s description, leading to his eventual arrest.
In addition to his convictions, McLean had faced further charges, including two counts of possession of property obtained by crime, driving without a licence, registration or insurance, and displaying an unauthorized licence plate.