Brooks man charged after ramming car with baby, RCMP say

A Brooks man has been charged with assault and several other offences after RCMP say he followed a vehicle home and rammed it repeatedly in a back alley on Oct. 28, while three people, including a baby, were inside the targeted car.

Brooks RCMP said in a news release shared Wednesday by SE AB Rural Crime Watch on Facebook that at approximately 10:55 p.m. that night, officers received a 911 call reporting that a suspect driving a Dodge Ram truck had followed the caller's vehicle to a back alley parking area in the 1000 block of Cassils Road West, then rammed it repeatedly. The suspect also allegedly threatened the caller and tried to get into the vehicle, breaking a window in the attempt.

Several officers responded and intercepted the suspect vehicle in the 500 block of Cassils Road West. The suspect was arrested without incident.

The caller's vehicle, a blue Chrysler 300, sustained moderate damage. The suspect's truck sustained minor damage. RCMP said the suspect and the caller were known to each other.

Bol Deng Gai, 48, a resident of Brooks, was charged with two counts of assault with a weapon, uttering threats, mischief, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and intimidation. Deng Gai was initially remanded into custody, then released on conditions. He was scheduled to appear in Alberta Court of Justice in Brooks on Wednesday to answer to the charges.

In a separate incident, Brooks RCMP also responded to reports of a wrong-way driver on Highway 1 near Tilley on Oct. 31.

At approximately 8:55 p.m. that night, RCMP received two reports of a pickup truck travelling in opposing lanes of traffic and swerving, nearly colliding with other vehicles, the release said. Officers located a white Dodge truck parked on the shoulder of the westbound lanes of Highway 1 with its headlights on and made contact with the lone male driver, observing signs consistent with impairment.

The driver failed a roadside breath screening test, was taken to Brooks RCMP detachment for further testing and refused to provide a breath sample.

A 30-year-old Calgary man was charged with impaired operation of a conveyance and failing to comply with a breath demand. He was also issued a notice of administrative penalty for a second offence under Alberta's Immediate Roadside Sanctions program and a violation ticket for transporting liquor within reach of an occupant.

Under the province's IRS program, a second fail carries a 90-day licence suspension, a 36-month ignition interlock requirement, a 30-day vehicle seizure, a two-day impact course and a $2,000 fine plus victim surcharge.

The Calgary man was released on an appearance notice and is scheduled to appear in Alberta Court of Justice in Brooks on Jan. 13, 2027.

None of the allegations have been proven in court.