On June 18, 2025, at approximately 3:20 a.m., Grande Prairie Rural RCMP attempted a traffic stop on a black Nissan Sentra. The vehicle failed to stop and fled into a residential neighbourhood in the City of Grande Prairie at a high rate of speed. Members disengaged and conducted patrols in the area. The vehicle was located abandoned a few minutes later and a male was seen walking away from the vehicle. The male was arrested and confirmed to be the driver.
The vehicle was searched incidental to arrest and revealed 62 cartons of unstamped tobacco and $4275 in Canadian currency. The vehicle was also reported as stolen.
As a result of the investigation, James Surrett (37), a resident of Clairmont, Alta., was charged with:
- Flight from police;
- Possession of property obtained by crime over $5000;
- Possession of tobacco for the purpose of selling;
- Possession of property obtained by crime;
- Fraud over $5000;
- Possession of a prohibited weapon;
- Possession of weapon contrary to order (x2); and
- Possession of unstamped tobacco.
Surrett was brought before a justice of the peace and was originally remanded into custody but has since been released. He is to appear before the Alberta Court of Justice in Grande Prairie on July 14, 2025.
Information provided by the Grande Prairie RCMP