Man charged with damaging RCMP vehicles with trackhoe, threatening to kill officers

RCMP cruisers damaged by a trackhoe at the Bonnyville, Alta. RCMP detachment on May 3, 2025. (Credit: RCMP)

A Bonnyville man is facing 13 criminal charges after a man drove a stolen trackhoe into the parking lot of the Bonnyville RCMP detachment and damaged several RCMP vehicles.

The incident happened at 6:55 p.m. on Saturday.

The trackhoe was stolen from a local business shortly before the episode.

While stealing the machine, the man drove it through the fence of the business causing significant damage, according to police.

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The man then picked up several boulders with the trackhoe on the way to the detachment.

According to RCMP, he dumped the boulders in front of the prisoner bay of the detachment, which investigators believe was an attempt to delay the ability of officers to respond to calls.

He then drove the trackhoe into five unoccupied RCMP cruisers, causing the vehicles to be totaled and ran from the scene on foot, according to police.

A police dog found the suspect in a tree a short distance from the detachment.

As police arrested him, the man reportedly fought with officers and was bitten by the dog.

He was taken to hospital for treatment and released.

The 62-year-old man has been charged with:

• dangerous driving;
• six counts of mischief over $5,000;
• break and enter;
• possession of stolen property over $5,000;
• theft over $5,000;
• two counts of obstruct/resist peace officer; and
• utter threats.

Police say the last charge relates to an incident on April 17 where the man allegedly called the RCMP dispatch in Saskatchewan and threatened to kill officers.

The man is scheduled to appear in court in Bonnyville on Tuesday.

“Incidents like this can be frightening for communities. In this instance, we believe there was no threat to the public and the RCMP was the target,” Staff Sgt. Sarah Parke said in a news release, adding many comments that were made on social media by the public about the incident expressed disappointment that officers were not hurt or killed during the incident.

“All RCMP officers come to work, day in and day out, to protect and serve their community. It is extremely disheartening to see these types of comments made.”

No injuries were reported.

Parke says the man was known to RCMP before the incident.