LAC LA BICHE - An area man wanted on a province-wide warrant after a region-wide police chase in early November made his first appearance in court last week — almost a month after being on the run.
Darren Larose, 35, from the Buffalo Lake Métis Settlement is now at the Edmonton Remand Centre, awaiting his second court appearance in two weeks after his case was held over while a lawyer looks over the file.
Larose is facing several charges, including attempted murder, assault with a weapon, robbery with a firearm, discharging a firearm with intent and breach of probation.
On November 3 of this year, RCMP say they had members on a patrol in the Heart Lake area when they spotted a pickup truck believed stolen from the Bonnyville area. Police say they also believed a man wanted on an outstanding attempted murder charge — in connection to an armed robbery at a residence in Buffalo Lake a week earlier — was an occupant.
When police attempted to pull the vehicle over, it reportedly sped away, leading police on a pursuit that wound across the region, through Lac La Biche and Plamondon, until a spike belt was used to disable the vehicle on a rural road south of the Plamondon 4-Corners. Police say three occupants of the vehicle were arrested at the scene, but one man ran into the nearby wooded area. The search for the suspect caused several rural residents to be evacuated from their homes overnight as the wanted man was considered to be armed and dangerous. Despite a search of the area over the next two days, the man was not located.
Caught in the city
On December 1, with the assistance of Edmonton Police Services, RCMP found and arrested Darren Larose at a residence in Edmonton.
Larose is expected to appear by CCTV in Lac La Biche Provincial Court this week to discuss his plea and schedule his next court date.
