Witness to southern Alberta police takedown 'glad they caught the guy when they did'

A tense confrontation between a B.C. man and a police officer was caught on camera in southern Alberta on Canada Day and a witness says he's glad the driver was stopped when he was.

Redcliff, Alta.,resident Les Landry had his dash-mounted camera rolling when he approached the highway Friday just before 6 p.m.

Landry pulled up behind the RCMP officer attempting to make an arrest.

"I am glad they caught the guy when they did," Landry tells CBC News.

"And that they caught him before anyone got injured."

• View video on a mobile device

Mounties say the detachment received three separate calls of an erratic driver passing other cars on the shoulder of the highway.

They say the vehicle was seen travelling at 163 km/h, more than 50 km/h over the posted speed limit.

The RCMP officer approached the suspect's car, which by then had a flat tire, and police say the driver got out and tried to forcefully remove the driver of another vehicle that was parked nearby.

"It was one cop that showed up and then a number of citizens that assisted the cop," Landry said.

The video shows the suspect and officer tussling as the officer tries to make an arrest.

"Scary," Landry said, describing the whole incident.

"I imagine it was probably just as scary when he was passing people on the shoulder. It's a highway, we are dealing with families."

Daniel Joseph Landry of Coquitlam, B.C., has been charged with attempted robbery, failure to remain at the scene of an accident, dangerous driving, assaulting a police officer, resisting arrest and attempting to disarm a police officer.

He will appear in provincial court in Medicine Hat, Alta.,on Tuesday.

Witness Les Landry says he's not sure if the suspect is related or not.

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