On April 20, 2023, at approximately 5 a.m., Stettler RCMP were dispatched to a break, enter and commit theft file at Heartland Marine where suspects stole a boat. The suspect vehicle and boat were soon located abandoned in Stettler County. As officers were patrolling, at 6:40 a.m., another break and enter was reported in Stettler County near Red Willow. Officers patrolled the area, and a suspicious truck matching the description of the suspect vehicle was located driving in an alley in Donalda, Alta. A traffic stop was attempted, and the vehicle fled at a high rate of speed. RCMP Police Dog Services and Air Services assisted in the search.
At 8:45 a.m., the suspect vehicle was located at a rural residence near Hwy 856 and Twp 430. An officer saw one of the truck occupants running with a firearm. The vehicle and three occupants fled the scene; however, were soon located on Twp Rd 424. A traffic stop was attempted again, but the vehicle fled at a high rate of speed towards Forestburg, Alta. The truck then hit a power pole in the north end of Forestburg and became disabled. Officers located two males beside the vehicle and both were taken into custody. A .22 long rifle was located in the truck. One occupant had fled and was reported to be walking in a field well north of Forestburg. Containment was set up, and Police Dog Services was deployed to the area. A third male was arrested.
A 39-year-old individual, a resident of Red Deer, Alta., has been charged with:
- Unauthorized possession of a firearm
- Flight from Police
- Possession of firearm in a motor vehicle
- Mischief under $5000 (x3)
- Break and Enter
- Fail to comply with release conditions (x2)
- Possession of a weapon contrary to prohibition
A 35-year-old individual, a resident of Stettler, has been charged with:
- Unauthorized possession of a firearm
- Flight from Police
- Possession of firearm in a motor vehicle
- Mischief under $5000 (x3)
- Break and Enter
- Operate a motor vehicle while prohibited
- Possession of a weapon contrary to prohibition (x3)
A 24-year-old individual, a resident of Stettler, has been charged with:
- Unauthorized possession of a firearm
- Flight from police
- Possession of firearm in a motor vehicle
- Mischief under $5000 (x3)
- Break and enter
- Fail to comply with release order (x2)
- Possession of weapon contrary to prohibition
After judicial interim release hearings, all three accused were remanded into custody and will be appearing in Alberta Court of Justice in Stettler on April 27, 2023.
Stettler Detachment Commander, Staff Sgt. Jon England, states, "With the assistance of Bashaw, Killam, Coronation and Wetaskiwin General Duty officers, Police Dog Services and Ponoka Freeway officers, these criminals were taken off the streets and their crime spree has ended."