A licence plate theft turned into a whole lot more for RCMP in Claresholm and Fort Macleod Thursday.

About 9:30 a.m. Claresholm RCMP responded to a hit and run in the town.

Someone was seen stealing a licence plate from a vehicle, and when the owner tried to follow the suspect vehicle, the suspect purposely hit the owner's vehicle and drove away.   

The driver of a second vehicle saw the collision and also followed the suspect providing directions to police.   

RCMP tried to stop the suspect on Highway 519, just east of Granum.

The suspect stopped on the highway, then quickly reversed his vehicle and rammed the front of the police car.  

A second police vehicle coming from the west also collided with the suspect vehicle sending the man running, but he was arrested shortly afterwards.
 
A 29-year-old man from Fort Macleod faces numerous charges including hit and run, assaulting police officer with a weapon, and dangerous operation of motor vehicle.

Other charges are also pending.