Edmonton police said a man in his 30s was facing a number of charges, after apparently trying to hit a mother, her child, and her partner with a car late Wednesday.
On Wednesday, late in the afternoon, it was reported a 31-year-old male suspect had been involved in a fight inside a home, and it was believed he was impaired by drugs at the time.
The suspect fled the home in a stolen Nissan Maxima.
Police were called at about 5:30 p.m. for a welfare check on that individual in the area of 121 Avenue and 87 Street.
About two hours later, the suspect drove back to the home. At the same time in the same area, a mother and her two-year-old son were getting into their family vehicle.
Reports indicated the suspect drove towards them, accelerated and hit the vehicle.
“He rammed into my drivers’ side door, I looked back at my son and he was OK, no impact,” Dianne LaFleur said.
Police said he allegedly reversed and hit the vehicle again, multiple times.
“I thought it was an accident, until I looked at the guy,” LaFleur continued. “He looked like he hated me.”
Meanwhile, the mother’s partner overheard the incident from inside their home, and ran outside. His name is Corey Feschuk, and he also spoke to CTV News.
“As I was running outside, the car was reversing, hit her [car] again,” Feschuk said. “I’m yelling at the top of my lungs, telling him to stop, he reversed, hit her again.
“[He] reversed and came right at me.”
Police said the suspect allegedly drove the vehicle at the man, jumping the curb. Feschuk managed to get out of the way and wasn’t hurt.
Feschuk then took out his phone and started recording the driver – who police said may have been high on street drugs.
“In my investigation, there is absolutely no motive or provocation for this incident to have occurred, which is…alarming in the broader sense,” EPS Det. Scott Nolt said.
The family escaped into their home, they were treated on scene by paramedics for non-life-threatening injuries.
The suspect was arrested on the scene, and has been charged. Amit Mani, 31, is facing three charges each of attempted murder, assault with a weapon, and dangerous driving, he faces one count each of mischief and disqualified driving.
CTV News spoke to Mani’s mother, who said she had tried multiple times to get her son help for addictions and mental health.
“I was asking, I was asking: ‘Help, help’,” She said. “Why can’t they help me? Why can’t they help me? This thing happened, and then they come and charge a big charge.”
With files from David Ewasuk
