Prince Albert police have identified the hit-and-run suspect that allegedly delayed a provincial politician’s appearance at a local debate yesterday morning.
46-year-old Ralph Linklater of Pelican Narrows was arrested yesterday and charged with impaired driving, refusing to provide breath samples, and breach of an undertaking.
Linklater was arrested by a member of the RCMP in a marked police vehicle after the alleged incident with Saskatchewan Party candidate Darryl Hickie.
Police say the officer had been flagged down by an off-duty member of the Prince Albert Police Service, who had driven past the scene of the accident and spoken with Hickie.
According to the Saskatchewan Party, Hickie was driving to a candidates forum at Carlton High School in his campaign truck when it was sideswiped by another vehicle.
Hickie wasn’t hurt, and party officials say he made several attempts to get the other driver to put his vehicle in park.
The party says, at one point, Hickie grabbed the sleeve of the driver — who eventually hit the gas pedal and sped off.
Saskatchewan Party officials say Hickie did manage to take down the licence plate number of the vehicle involved.
Linklater was held in custody and made an initial appearance in Prince Albert Provincial Court this morning.