Mission Impossible-like morning for Cochrane tow-truck driver

A scary, split-second decision for one Cochrane tow-truck driver that sounds like something out of a Jackie Chan movie.

23 year old Brody Leimer of Big Hill Towing was responding to what was supposed to be a routine tow-in around 4 o’clock Monday morning.

He found a Toyota RAV 4, in the eastbound lanes of the TransCanada, three kilometres east of the Highway 40 exit.

“When he went to hook up to the vehicle he did observe a male kind of walking down the distance towards him and he figured he’d be asking to hitch a ride so he went about his business, doing his job, and had hooked up the RAV 4, hoisting it up in the air with only one of the tires attached,” said Cochrane RCMP Corporal Troy Savinkoff. “He jumped into the car to put it in neutral to put some dolleys under the back tires, when suddenly he’s in the back car and it starts driving away!”

Leimer told police he started to freak, wondering about what his next move would be, and with his cell phone in the tow truck, his options were limited.

“Brody decided to climb out of the RAV 4 and onto the hood of the SUV and jump onto his tow truck in something I think is very similar to James Bond or Mission Impossible.  While it’s driving down the highway, tires popping, sparks flying from the car that’s being dragged, Brody climbed to the passenger side, swung into the cab and was able to wrestle the thief and kick him out of his tow truck before anyone got hurt,” Savinkoff said. “As Brody’s telling the story, I’m wide-eyed just listening to it and can’t believe he did what he did, but at the same time he was in a risky situation where there was no answer and it’s tough to be critical of the choices he made. I’ve never seen anything like this.”

The officer adds it was fortunate they were able to keep the vehicle on the road and not strike anyone.

The Cochrane native was also concerned about the safety of others, given the car they were dragging was swinging all over the road.

It’s believed they were traveling roughly 65 kilometres an hour and managed to make it 1.5 kilometres before Leimer got the truck to stop.

In another twist to the story, Big Hill Towing’s Jackie Richards tells 660News the on-duty manager last night managed to come across the suspect at the Morley on-ramp as he was heading to the scene.

He kept him busy until police could arrive.

20 year old Aaron Omeasoo-Stephens of Morley, has been arrested and charged with impaired driving, operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol level exceeding .08, two counts of theft over $5,000 and driving without a license.

Omeasoo-Stephens has been released and will be appear in court next on October 7.

Richards says Leimer was at home today, getting some well deserved rest.