On February 12, 2020, at approximately 9:00 am, a pick-up truck that had previously been reported stolen from the Manning area, was observed travelling southbound on highway 35 by a member of the public.

Police encountered the vehicle, which turned off the highway and onto a township road near the hamlet of Dixonville, travelling at a high rate of speed past several residences before turning onto a set of railroad tracks and driving along the rail line. 

Police contained the area and ultimately located the vehicle abandoned in a field, after it had apparently left the rail line and become stuck in the snow.  The footprints of an individual were tracked for several kilometers from the vehicle to a bush line, where one person was located and arrested without incident.  

Ivan Michael Loonskin, a 31 year old resident of Paddle Prairie, has been charged with the dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, operation of a motor vehicle while prohibited from doing so, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), and 3 counts of failing to comply with conditions of a release order.

Loonskin has been remanded into custody at this time, pending a show cause hearing that is scheduled for February 18, 2020, in Fort Vermilion provincial court via CCTV. 

Police would like to take this opportunity to remind the public to remove keys from vehicles and to not leave vehicles running unattended.  Keep your personal property secure by removing all valuables from your vehicles, even when they're parked on your own property.