Weyburn RCMP received a complaint of an erratic driver travelling south on Highway 35 towards Weyburn at approximately 11:40 p.m. on Oct. 12. A member of the Weyburn Combined Traffic Services Section (CTSS) was able to locate the vehicle travelling at a high rate of speed and attempted to stop the vehicle.
The driver refused to stop for police and at one point, turned around and accelerated at a high rate of speed towards the police vehicle. The RCMP member took evasive action to avoid a head-on collision. The driver continued efforts to evade police, driving through a ditch and, at one point, losing control and getting stuck. As the RCMP member approached the vehicle, the suspect driver managed to get the vehicle out of the ditch and flee again at a high speed. RCMP then discontinued efforts to stop the vehicle due to safety concerns.
Officers located the vehicle a short time later just outside of Weyburn, still occupied by the driver. The driver, identified as 23-year old Derek Debnam, was arrested without incident. Members determined that Debnam was disqualified from driving and that the vehicle had been reported stolen.
Debnam made his first appearance in Regina Provincial Court on Oct. 15. He has been charged with flight from police, driving while disqualified, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, taking a motor vehicle without consent and failure to comply with conditions of an undertaking.
