A St. Albert man is facing a long list of new charges after a failed attempt to escape police custody in a stolen prisoner transport van.
Wood Buffalo RCMP were called to the Fort McMurray provincial courthouse at 5 p.m. Monday after the 21-year-old suspect made his escape.
The man had fled the custody of the Alberta Sheriffs by driving away in one of their transport vehicles.
But the suspect wasn’t free for long.
Following up on a complaint of a dangerous driver, Mounties found the stolen van abandoned a few blocks away from the downtown courthouse..
Officers located the suspect a short distance away. He was taken into custody without incident.
The man has been charged with escaping lawful custody, theft of a motor vehicle, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and possession of cocaine.
He will remain in custody and is set to appear in court again in January.