A Rocky Mountain House man is facing charges after a police officer was assaulted in Eckville March 6.
Two Sylvan Lake RCMP officers patrolling the town around 11 p.m. witnessed a vehicle approaching them when it swerved to avoid hitting a parked car and nearly struck the leading police vehicle head-on.
The vehicle then swerved a second time nearly colliding head-on with the second police vehicle.
Both officers turned their vehicles around to pursue the suspect, who had collided with a power pole, shearing it off in the process, before running in to a gas station’s cement barriers.
The sole male occupant of the vehicle fled on foot, and was pursued by the officers.
A struggle ensued when the officers reached the suspect. One officer was choked by the suspect while the other officer assisted in the suspect’s arrest.
While the suspect didn’t require any medical treatment, EMS treated one officer on scene before further treatment was carried out at the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre.
The officer was eventually released with a full recovery expected, according to police.
Darrel James Jamieson, 36, of Rocky Mountain House has been charged with impaired operation, refusal, dangerous driving, failure to stop for peace officer, resisting arrest, assaulting a peace officer and choking to overcome resistance.
Jamieson was released with conditions set, and had a court appearance scheduled for Red Deer March 23.
Police said the names of the officers involved in the arrest would not be released.