Police charge male and female in connection with carjacking

Lethbridge Police have charged a male and female in connection with a carjacking incident over the weekend.

On November 10 just after 11:30 p.m., police responded to a verbal altercation between a male and female outside a business along the 400 block of Mayor Magrath Drive South. When approached by police, the male fled on foot. He located a running truck nearby and forced the driver out. As the vehicle proceeded to leave the parking lot police observed a passenger inside and it was unknown at the time if the individual was a victim of the carjacking. The subject was driving erratically at high rates of speed and exited to Highway 3 where he drove eastbound in the westbound lanes, and appeared to intentionally swerve at oncoming traffic. Given the significant danger to the public, police intercepted the vehicle at 43 Street South, using a vehicle intervention technique to immobilize it. Both the police vehicle and subject truck came to rest in a canal. The driver attempted to flee on foot, but was apprehended by officers at the scene. No one was injured and police confirmed the passenger was the same female the male had previously been arguing with. 

Matthew Martens, 33, of Nobleford, is charged with robbery, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, flight from peace officer, resisting a peace officer, two counts of uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm, and failure to comply with release order conditions. Following a Judicial Interim Release hearing, Martens was remanded in custody and made their first court appearance Tuesday.

Tracy Krystyne Fontaine, 35, of Lethbridge, is charged with possession of stolen property over $5000, abetting in committing an offence (robbery) and two counts of failure to comply with release order conditions. Following a Judicial Interim Release hearing, Fontaine was remanded in custody and made their first court appearance Tuesday.