Edmonton police said four people were facing charges after police pulled over a stolen vehicle early Thursday morning, and seized weapons and drugs.

Police said on Thursday, March 2, members of the EPS Canine Unit saw a suspicious vehicle driving in the area of Jasper Avenue and 112 Street at about 12:45 a.m.

Officers searched the B.C. licence plate on the Chevrolet pickup truck and discovered it had been reported stolen – when police tried to pull the vehicle over, it fled.

Police called in Air-1 and members from Downtown Division for support, officers saw a passenger leave the vehicle in the area of 74 Street and 94B Avenue – the individual was quickly apprehended by officers before 1 a.m., they found about 135 grams of heroin with an estimated value of $45,000 in his possession.

Meanwhile, the truck continued to flee – it eventually came to a stop at about 1:30 a.m., and two passengers exited the vehicle in the Ottewell area. They were taken into custody. The driver stayed in the vehicle, but was arrested a short time later.

Officers seized a firearm in the vehicle, that had its serial number removed, and ammunition.

Investigators eventually discovered it had been stolen from Saskatchewan, and the licence plate was stolen from British Columbia.

Now, four suspects are facing charges:

  • Nicholas Kernaz, 25, faces charges of dangerous driving, criminal flight, two counts of possession of stolen property under $5,000, among other weapons charges and breaches
  • Zachary Olson, 24, has been charged with two counts of possession of stolen property under $5,000, one count of possession of a controlled substance and a number of weapons charges
  • Shelby Anne Curtis, 23, has been charged with two counts of possession of stolen property under $5,000 and a number of weapons offences
  • Benjamin Zacharias, 39, has been charged with two counts of possession of stolen property under $5,000, a charge of possession of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking and a number of other charges