Police lay 27 charges against 4 people in weekend carjackings
Incidents across city have police concerned about level of violence used in the crimes
Four people, including a father and son duo, have been charged in connection to three carjackings in Calgary on Saturday.
One involved a handgun and two others involved assault — in one case a woman, an elderly couple in the other.
Police said Saturday the level of violence used in the carjackings was a concern.
In total, 27 charges have been laid against four people in the three cases.
Edgemont stolen Toyota Tacoma
The first incident occurred in the northwest community of Edgemont shortly before 5 a.m.
Police say a man was parked in a blue Toyota Tacoma in the 5100 block of Country Hills Boulevard when two men approached the truck and pulled out a handgun.
The man got out of the truck and the offenders took off, driving erratically throughout the northwest before finally being stopped on 14th Avenue near SAIT after a police pursuit.
The suspects — a 46-year-old man and his 17-year-old son — were taken into custody. Their names were withheld to protect the teen's identity, who is being charged as a youth.
The 46-year-old has been charged with robbery with a restricted or prohibited firearm, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle while being pursued by police.
The 17-year-old faces nine charges, including robbery with a restricted or prohibited firearm, possession of a weapon obtained by crime, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and possession of a firearm knowing the serial number has been altered.
17th Avenue S.W. assault
The second incident started shortly before 1 p.m. at a gas station in southwest Calgary.
According to police, a man entered a gas station in the 3900 block of 17th Avenue S.W. and damaged property and assaulted two clerks.
The man fled and began jumping in front of moving cars on 17th Avenue. Police say the man blocked a 2010 Acura MDX stopped at a light, forced his way into the passenger seat and assaulted the female driver by striking her in the head several times.
The offender yelled at the female victim to drive.
A patrol officer spotted the car in the 1300 block of 37th Street S.W. as it approached a red light. The offender jumped out as the driver slowed and was arrested after a short struggle.
Charles Clairoux, 23, from Red Deer, was charged with robbery, assault with a weapon, mischief and resisting arrest.
Sunridge assault
The third incident happened around 2:30 p.m. in the northeast community of Sunridge. Police say an elderly couple parked their 2010 Ford Edge and headed into a business in the 3400 block of 26th Avenue N.E.
They were approached by a man who tried to get the car keys, which were inside the man's pants pocket. The two began wrestling, police said.
The suspect managed to get the keys and drove off in the car, hitting the elderly woman and a nearby building in the process.
Soon after, witnesses reported the vehicle driving recklessly near Sarcee Trail and Richmond Road S.W. The HAWCS helicopter followed the vehicle to Highway 8 and Stone Pine Way S.W., where a man got out and was arrested.
Dylan Nathaniel Altenhofen, 24, who is from Calgary, has been charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing bodily harm, hit and run causing bodily harm, robbery, driving while disqualified and failing to comply with a probation order.
He also faces three counts of hit and run and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.
The woman was taken to hospital with serious injuries but has been released. The man received minor injuries.