30-year-old pleads guilty in string of rural crimes

By Peggy Revell on May 8, 2018.

Guilty pleas were entered Monday by a man connected to a string of rural break-and-enters, vehicle thefts and dangerous driving that ultimately led to a rollover in a highway ditch.

Bail was also denied to 30-year-old Randy Yaholnitsky until his May 30 sentencing.

According to the agreed statement of facts, Redcliff RCMP received a report over a stolen Dodge truck with a black cargo trailer attached travelling southbound on Highway 41 North. Police located the Dodge truck, and attempted to pull it over — including through use of a spike belt — but the vehicle refused to stop. Police stopped pursuing it due to public safety concerns. Shortly afterward, a small car was observed to stop by the truck and trailer, pick up the driver and speed off toward Medicine Hat, abandoning the truck.

Police processed the Dodge for fingerprints, and a palm impression on the inside of the driver’s window was located and confirmed to be that of Yaholnitsky.

As the Crown is unable to prove who was driving the truck, Yaholnitsky pled guilty to possession of stolen property over $5,000.

On Feb. 16, Redcliff RCMP received a complaint regarding a break and enter at two neighbouring businesses on Range Road 64 in Cypress County, where a Dodge Ram flat deck truck and numerous items were stolen. Medicine Hat police later located the stolen vehicle turning onto Broadway Avenue at Box Springs Road, with the accused driving. The accused didn’t stop, and the officer chose to not pursue due to public safety concerns. RCMP located the truck parked in a farmyard, but the accused fled again in it.

At 1 p.m.. MHPS observed the truck again, and attempted to pull the driver over. Once again the accused refused to stop, instead driving into the oncoming traffic lane, increasing his speed while approaching Crescent Heights High School. Police once again opted to not pursue due to safety. Police observed the accused drive through the school zone at a high rate of speed, continuing in the lane for oncoming traffic, and driving erratically for approximately 14 blocks before losing sight of the vehicle.

On Feb. 27, at 1:27 a.m., Brooks RCMP received a report of a break and enter in progress at an oil site outside of Tilley. The accused — driving a stolen GMC Sierra entered the site and went through several buildings, then hotwired an ATV. He fled when a site worker arrived. When police located and attempted to pull the accused over in the stolen vehicle, the accused instead increased his speed and drove straight toward the officer’s vehicle, narrowly missing it.

Redcliff RCMP located the vehicle and again unsuccessfully attempted to pull the accused over.

Police lost sight of the truck, but when approaching Range Road 73, observed it upside down in the centre meridian ditch with “significant damage to the roof and the front windows being packed with snow” and the officer believing it unlikely anyone would be alive in the vehicle.

Police and EMS were able to extricate Yaholnitsky, who was breathing and moving. Inside the truck were multiple items that had been reported stolen.

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