Wayward backhoe leads to arrest

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By Morinville News Staff

Sturgeon County – An alert worker provided police with the information needed to recover a backhoe believed stolen from the Stony Plain / Spruce Grove area Monday night. Morinville RCMP received a call just after midnight Jan. 28 alerting them to a backhoe being driven erratically on Range Road 270 northbound, heading towards Highway 37. The vehicle did not have its headlights on, a situation that made the caller suspicious something was not right.

“Our officers attended the area immediately and observed the backhoe was travelling all over the road,” said Morinville RCMP Constable Yelena Avoine. “The officer activated the emergency lights and the backhoe proceeded to speed away.”

RCMP continued to follow the vehicle and called for helicopter and police dog services to assist. A second officer was able to get in front of the backhoe and drop a spike belt. “When the backhoe was approaching that vehicle, he actually stopped,” Avoine said. “The officers were able to make an arrest.”

Twenty-seven-year old Dustin Moes from Westlock has been charged with the possession of stolen property and four other charges. His first court appearance will be in Morinville Feb. 7.

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