Woman facing multiple charges in Calgary vehicle theft, hit-and run that injured motorcyclist

A woman is facing a long list of charges in a stolen vehicle incident that injured a motorcyclist Wednesday afternoon.

Around 2:45 p.m., a man was standing outside of his running vehicle on Erlton Road SW when a woman he didn’t know hopped into the driver’s seat.

The man and a friend tried to get the woman out of the vehicle, shattering the driver-side window in the process, according to police.

The woman drove away in the stolen vehicle.

A short time later, several calls were made to police about a reckless driver who had a hit a motorcyclist and left the scene at Macleod Trail and 53 Avenue SW.

Investigators believe the vehicle rear-ended and mounted the motorcycle.

Multiple Good Samaritans stopped to help the injured biker, who was eventually take to hospital in serious but stable condition.

The motorcyclist is still in hospital, police say.

Around 3 p.m., police got a report of an impaired driver in the area of 15 Street SE and New Street SE.

Two minutes later, police received a different report of a suspicious vehicle on Inglewood Point SE. The driver was seen striking a barrier and then getting out of the vehicle to change clothes.

By this point, officers had flooded the area, and were able to find the suspect on 15 Street SE where she was sitting on a rock near a pathway and was arrested without incident.

When the suspect was searched by officers, several forms of fentanyl and shatter (cannabis) worth more than $30,000 was found.

She was found to be wanted on several outstanding warrants for not attending court.

Thirty-six-year-old Candice Lacey Mineault is charge with two counts of possession of drugs, one count of fail or refuse to comply with a demand (drugs), motor vehicle theft, dangerous operation causing bodily harm, fail to stop at scene of an accident causing bodily harm, failure to comply with a release order, failure to comply or breach of probation order, operate unregistered motor vehicle on highway, drive uninsured motor vehicle on highway, operation motor vehicle without holding subsisting operator’s license, failure to report collision to police, and theft under $5,000 from a motor vehicle.

Mineault is still in custody and is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday.

“The reckless disregard for the safety of the public cannot be understated in this case. However, this was also a shining example of Calgarians working together to stop a dangerous criminal. They quickly provided key information to police, which enabled us to locate the suspect and arrest her before any further harm could be done. Calgarians also came to the aid of the injured motorcyclist to help save their life. Well done Calgary,” said Staff Sgt. Paul Ralstin, with Calgary Police Service District 1.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact police at 403-266-1234 or tip anonymously through CrimeStoppers.