Ernie Chaves, owner of the Colinton General Store, has been hospitalized after what Athabasca RCMP called a “scuffle” with a man attempting to break into the general store early last Saturday morning.
Chaves lives near the general store. When the store’s alarm went off, he went to the scene on foot and interrupted the suspect’s efforts to enter the building. An altercation ensued, and the suspect retreated to his vehicle.
“The suspect entered his vehicle and drove away with the owner/victim on the outside of the vehicle. The owner fell to the ground and sustained serious injuries when he struck the pavement,” said Sgt. Brian Scott in an RCMP media release.
Bruce Bretzlaff and three other members of the Colinton Volunteer Fire Brigade were among the first on the scene.
“The patient was on the ground. There was a couple of local residents helping him,” said Bretzlaff, adding that Chaves was clearly in pain and bleeding a little.
“He wasn’t really talking with us. He was just disoriented,” Bretzlaff said of Chaves’s response to their initial ministrations. Bretzlaff said Chaves was conscious throughout his time with him.
A general store employee said Chaves suffered a broken collarbone and road rash.
An Athabasca RCMP spokesperson could not confirm the severity of Chaves’s injuries, though he did state that the suspect was not armed. He added it is “too soon to tell” if the incident is related to other recent break-ins in the Athabasca area.
Bretzlaff could not comment on the state of store, nor did the RCMP reveal what, if anything, was stolen.
“As soon as we knew the store was broken into, we stepped away from it,” said Bretzlaff, noting that brigade members did not want to jeopardize evidence.
Police were despatched at 4:55 a.m. to the scene of the crime.
The suspect is still at large and is described as a middle-aged male with a darker complexion. He was driving a dark-coloured pickup.
“I sure hope they find this person and bring him to justice,” said Bretzlaff.
Athabasca RCMP are being assisted by Edmonton RCMP Forensic Identification Services and St. Paul RCMP collision analysts in their investigation.
As of press time, Chaves family members were not reachable for comment.
