RCMP in Banff have charged a B.C. man with multiple drug and assault offences after he allegedly fled a traffic stop.
On March 13, RCMP conducting routine traffic enforcement patrols along Highway 1 near the Town of Banff saw a Chrysler minivan swerving.
The vehicle was stopped by police near the Norquay overpass on Highway 1 eastbound and, after approaching the driver, police smelled marijuana and told the driver to exit the minivan.
The man got out and was told he was under arrest for possession of a controlled substance.
It's alleged the man then resisted arrest, confronted the officer and started a fight on the highway.
Police say the man assaulted the officer in an effort to flee and return to his vehicle.
The officer used a Taser on the man, but he continued to flee and drove off.
About 1½ kilometres further east on Highway 1, the man crashed the van into a snowbank.
When police arrived, they found the driver outside of the van where he continued to refuse to listen to the officers.
Another physical altercation followed and it wasn't until more police officers arrived that they were finally able to get control of the driver.
He was then taken into custody.
He is scheduled to appear in court in Canmore on March 19.
Multiple Criminal Code, highway law charges
The officer assaulted by the driver did not sustain physical injuries.
Banff RCMP said officers located and seized marijuana, cocaine, an undisclosed amount of cash and numerous cell phones after taking the driver into custody.
The driver, from Pitt Meadows, B.C., has been charged with two counts of possession for the purposes of trafficking and one count each of assaulting a police officer, escaping lawful custody and possession of property obtained by crime.
He also faced one count under the Traffic Safety Act and one count under the Use of Highway and Rules of the Road Regulation.