A suspect is awaiting trial for attempted murder and a number of other charges following a stabbing which took place on Monday, Dec. 21 outside of Eckville at 3503 Township road 40-2.
A warrant for the arrest of Edward Dwayne Heywood, 45 years-old, of no fixed address, was issued by Sylvan Lake RCMP in the days following the incident. RCMP stated in a media release that at approximately 7:45 p.m. on Dec. 21 they arrived to the rural location to find a severely injured man with numerous stab wounds. RCMP members at the scene provided first aid to the man until a STARS air ambulance arrived to transport the injured man to a hospital in Edmonton.
Investigations determined the male victim had been attacked by Heywood. Heywood was known by RCMP to have ties to central Alberta and is known to frequent Red Deer, Penhold, Rocky Mountain House and Olds - often staying in hotels and motels.
He also had a previous outstanding warrant issued by Olds RCMP for assault, assault with a weapon and uttering threats in an unrelated investigation.
Heywood was arrested late on the evening of December 27 by Innisfail RCMP after he was spotted in a stolen GMC Sierra truck on Cottonwood Road in Innisfail.
RCMP stated the police attempted to pull the vehicle over, however it failed to stop and a pursuit began out of Bowden where the truck struck a power pole, unoccupied parked vehicle and an electrical box.
The vehicle continued onto Highway 2A where police were able to deploy a spike belt to ensure public safety which the fleeing vehicle drove over. The truck then drove into an open field where the deflating tires brought the vehicle to a stop. Heywood then fled on foot where he was arrested at approximately 11:30 p.m., a short distance later by RCMP members who had followed him on foot into the field.
Haywood will be held for a bail hearing. In addition to the attempted murder charge, he will face a number of criminal code charges as a result of the police pursuit and arrest in addition to the outstanding warrant issued by Olds.
“Some great work was done on this [the investigation] between both Sylvan Lake and Innisfail detachment members,” said Inspector Gibson Glavin of the Alberta RCMP ‘K’Division’s Strategic Communications Unit. “They were very hot on pursuing and locating the accused ever since the event occurred.”
“It doesn’t surprise me that at all hours anywhere in the province, our members were actively seeking to find Mr. Heywood and arrest him for this attempted murder,” he added.
Glavin stated the victim has been released from the hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.
editor@eckvilleecho.com