RCMP investigate abduction and purse snatching

Grande Prairie RCMP are investigating two separate incidents that occurred in the city on Tuesday night.

The first incident was a report of an alleged abduction. Police received the call just after 7 p.m. after witnesses say they had seen an argument take place on Poplar Drive. A female pedestrian was then forced into the passenger side of a pickup truck.

Police say they located the suspected vehicle shortly after 11 p.m., being driven at a high speed and running red lights in the downtown area.

They say officers pursued the vehicle and the driver of the pickup allegedly tried to ram a police vehicle. The vehicle occupants then fled by foot into a field near a trailer park.

A 27 year-old man and a 27 year-old woman were arrested a short time later.

The woman denied being abducted and instead claimed just to have had an argument with her boyfriend.

Police say they also believe another man may have been in the truck, but so far he has not been found.

They add that they believe he was the driver of the truck when the vehicle was being pursued.

He is described as being in his mid-twenties and is medium height with a slender build. He also has short, light brown hair and might have been wearing a grey shirt at the time of the incident.

The second incident involved a male who allegedly stole a purse from a woman after she left a liquor store.

Police say the incident happened around 8:20 p.m. when a 37 year-old woman came out of a liquor store, was approahced from behind and thrown to the ground.

The suspect took her purse and allegedly fled in a vehicle parked at a nearby video store.

The suspect is described as a caucasian male with light brown or blonde hair. He is also between 5’8" and 5’9" in height and was wearing a grey hoodie and blue jeans at the time of the incident.

Anyone with information in regards to these two incidents is asked to contact the Grande Prairie RCMP detachment at 780-830-5700 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.