Man arrested after throwing beef jerky, firing cap gun outside Alberta school
Posted Feb 12, 2026 3:54 pm.
A bizarre confrontation outside an Alberta school turned into a police chase Tuesday after a man allegedly fired a cap gun toward a principal before fleeing onto a highway.
Mounties in Edson, around 200 kilometres west of Edmonton, say officers were called after getting reports of a man behaving erratically near a school.
Witnesses told police the man was throwing beef jerky and shouting Bible verses at students. When the principal approached him, the man allegedly pulled out a cap gun and fired three shots in the principal’s direction before driving away.
No students witnessed the shots, and no injuries were reported.
Mounties located the suspect vehicle, but it refused to stop and continued westbound on Highway 16. RCMP Air Services, the Emergency Response Team, Police Dog Services and neighbouring detachments joined the pursuit as the vehicle travelled a long distance before turning onto rural roads north of the highway.
The chase ended on a private farm east of Hinton, where police say the driver got out of the vehicle and was arrested.
RCMP have charged Bryce Montgomery Petrick, 39, of Dawson Creek, B.C., with use of an imitation firearm while committing an offence, possession of an imitation firearm for a dangerous purpose, mischief, flight from police, and dangerous driving.
The accused was remanded in custody and scheduled to appear in court on Thursday.
