On Thursday morning, July 4, Kalum Christian Auger, 31, who had escaped Stan Daniels Healing Centre on May 30, which is a minimum-security federal prison in Edmonton, was arrested in Beaver County. Three RCMP detachments assisted the Edmonton Police Service (EPS) Targeted Response to Auto Theft Prevention (TRAP) Team, which included a helicopter, to stop a fleeing stolen vehicle.
“At 11:55 a.m., RCMP were asked to assist the EPS TRAP Team who located a suspicious Mazda sedan leaving the area where a stolen truck was last seen in Beaver County. After an initial traffic stop was attempted, the vehicle fled the area. RCMP officers from Tofield, Fort Saskatchewan, and Strathcona County were dispatched to the area with coordination by the RCMP Real Time Operations Centre and EPS Air 1,” the Alberta RCMP Media Relations release said.
Acting commander of the Tofield detachment Cpl. Kenneth Petruik said at the time of dispatch they did not realize an escaped convict was behind the wheel.
“During the initial containment of the suspect’s vehicle, members were unaware the suspect was an escaped federal prisoner,” Cpl. Petruik said.
A tire deflation device (TDD) was then used to stop the vehicle, and Auger got out and began running towards a property located at approximately Range Road 192 and Township Road 523, northwest of Tofield.
“A TDD was deployed which successfully disabled the vehicle. The lone occupant fled on foot and attempted to steal a vehicle from a local farmyard, however was quickly arrested by police,” the media release said.
“The effective coordination of assets between the RCMP Detachments as well as Edmonton Police Service was instrumental in effectively and safely arresting this wanted escapee. We are pleased to have this offender who was committing crime in our area back in jail,” Cpl. Petruik said.
As reported by CTV News Edmonton, Auger was serving time for manslaughter and was the fourth Stan Daniels Healing Centre escape of the year.
“He was sentenced to six years and nine months for manslaughter and has previously served sentences for break-and-enter with intent, pointing a firearm, and failure to comply with undertaking.”
Auger has now also been charged with flight from a peace officer, carrying a concealed weapon, possession of a controlled substance, illegal possession of government documents (x3), and operation of a motor vehicle while Prohibited.
“Auger has been taken before a justice of the peace and remanded into custody with his next court date set for July 15, 2024, at the Alberta Court of Justice in Vegreville,” the release said.
As found on the Stan Daniels Healing Centre website, they are a 72-bed facility housing conditionally released and federally sentenced Indigenous inmates.
“The centre is operated by Native Counselling Services of Alberta (NCSA), a minimum-security facility located at a prison in the city’s downtown called the Grierson Institution.”
Details surrounding Auger’s escaped from Stan Daniels Healing Centre have not been released.
Kari Janzen
Staff Reporter
