A Sylvan Lake man is facing a number of driving, drug and firearm charges after he fled from police near Whitecourt and then eluded them for five hours in the forest.
Whitecourt RCMP and Alberta Sheriff Integrated Traffic Unit tried to stop a 2001 Jaguar on Highway 43 west of Whitecourt about 11:25 p.m. Aug. 19.
The driver didn’t stop and a short pursuit ensued where speeds were in excess of 230 km/hr. At some point the Jaguar left the road and went down a sharp decline getting stuck at the end of a road off Highway 32 north, reported RCMP Cst. Michael Hibbs.
An RCMP police service dog was dispatched to the area after the male driver and only occupant of the vehicle fled into the forest. He was located about five hours later and taken to hospital as he “suffered minor injuries due to the elements and not as a result of his encounter with the police dog”.
A search of the vehicle uncovered 434 grams of cocaine, 639 grams of methamphetamine, one gram of heroin as well as paraphernalia for the use and traffic of drugs. Also discovered was a loaded 45 calibre handgun and a number of Oxycodone pills.
Brian Buxton, of Sylvan Lake, faces numerous charges including dangerous driving, possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking, possession of a stolen firearm and unsafe storage of a firearm. He was also wanted on a number of warrants out of Blackfalds, Innisfail, Red Deer and British Columbia.