A 28-year-old wanted on outstanding warrants is in custody after a high-risk incident in the city’s westside Friday.
According to Lethbridge Police officials, officers are alleged to have spotted Dylan Ivan Sokol on the northside of Lethbridge Friday morning. Officials say, Sokol who is banned from driving a vehicle in Canada, was seen loading items from one of the residential units in the 500 block of 23 Avenue North into a vehicle and driving it in the parking lot. Officers are said to have attempted to prevent the car from leaving, but the driver “was able to reverse and forcefully accelerate, subsequently freeing the vehicle and fleeing from police.” The man is said to have left the area quickly, driving across a green strip and sidewalk. Police say they did not follow the vehicle because public risk.
Around 4 p.m. the same day LPS members located the wanted man at a home on the westside. He is said to have barricaded himself inside the house, refusing to exit the building and reportedly had a gun.
Members of the Critical Incident Team, including Tactical Team members and negotiators responded to the scene. After several hours of negotiators having no success, police received a warrant to enter the home and members of the Tactical Team went inside and arrested the man without incident just before 10 p.m.
Sokol is facing over a dozen charges including possession of a firearm while prohibited, assaulting a peace officer with a weapon and resisting arrest. He has been remanded into custody and is next set to appear in court on September 17th.
