Policing in Alberta to November 25, 2013

RCMP press releases

• Pincher Creek RCMP weekly news summary
• Grande Prairie RCMP weekly news summary
• ASIRT investigates fatal collision near Redcliff, Alberta
• Kitscoty area collision results in injuriesAirdrie RCMP seek help to identify Theft and Fraud suspect
• RCMP Red Deer City charge two men after break-ins and flight from officer
• Fort McMurray Man charged in relation to Robberies
• Christmas season Check Stops announced for Edmonton area
• Busy start to Holiday Drinking and Driving campaign in Stony Plain/Spruce Grove area
• National Impaired Driving statistics
• Alberta Impaired Driving statistics

Pincher Creek RCMP weekly news summary

The following is an overview of the nature of the complaints that the Pincher Creek Detachment received for the period of November 18 to 25, 2013. Note that the summary indicates what was reported to the police and may not have been substantiated.

Total calls for service – 29

Assaults - 1

Uttering Threats - 1

Theft over $5000 -  1

Impaired Driving - 2

Drugs - 1

MV Collisions - 8

Liquor offences -4

Suspicious occurrences (general) - 3

Assistance to General Public (general) - 2

Assistance to other agencies - 1

False Alarms - 2

Animal calls - 2

Prisoners held - 5

Grande Prairie RCMP weekly news summary

 

Between 4:00 p.m. Friday, November 22, 2013 and 7:00 a.m. today, Monday November 25, 2013, the Grande Prairie RCMP received 216 reports and/or requests for services, of which included:

 

6 Abandoned Vehicles

4 Animal Complaints

7 Assaults

1 Break and Enter

1 Disobey Court Order

5 Fail to Remain At Scene of Accident

22 False Alarms

4 Frauds

14 Impaireds

1 Item Lost or Found

6 911 Calls

1 Gaming And Liquor Act

17 Mischiefs

3 Municipal Bylaw

10 Thefts

1 Theft of Motor Vehicle

7 Suspicious Person/Property/Vehicle

18 Collisions

2 Utter Threats

21 Requests for Assistance (General Public, Other Agencies, Other Police)

13 Other (Criminal Code, Provincial Act, Municipal Bylaw)

11 Other Moving Traffic Violations

7 Other Non-Moving Traffic Violations

ASIRT investigates fatal collision near Redcliff, Alberta

On November 22, 2013, at approximately 10 a.m., members of the Medicine Hat Police Service were dispatched to a location in Medicine Hat to a report of a domestic dispute. 

Prior to police arriving, a vehicle left the location and was pursued by members of the Medicine Hat Police Service. The suspect vehicle exited the Medicine Hat City limits and proceeded west on Hwy. 1. Members of the RCMP took over the responsibility for the pursuit. The suspect vehicle was involved in a serious collision near Redcliff, Alberta.

ASIRT can confirm that the two occupants in the suspect vehicle died on scene as a result of the collision. The driver of the semi-tractor trailer was taken to hospital with minor injuries and released.

The identity of the deceased and the truck driver are not being released at this time.

ASIRT’s investigation is ongoing.

Kitscoty area collision results in injuries

On 2013-11-24 at approximately 1600hrs, RCMP from Kitscoty responded to a single vehicle collision on Hwy 897 near Township Road 494. On arrival, Police observed a pick up truck  towing a horse trailer had slid off the road and rolled in a ditch causing the horse trailer to come to rest on top of the pick up.

 

Three (3) persons were found to have been in the vehicle at the time of the accident. One (1) of the persons, an 18 yr old male, was trapped in the vehicle and had to be extricated using the "jaws of life" by Fire Services.

 

STARS Air Ambulance was called to the scene and the male was transported to an Edmonton area hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

 

No charges are anticipated against the driver of the truck due to the hazardous road conditions at the time of the incident.

Airdrie RCMP seek help to identify Theft and Fraud suspect

On November 19, 2013, at approximately 10:30 a.m. Airdrie RCMP received a report of stolen car keys from the Twin Arena locker room the previous night of November 18, 2013, between the hours of 4:15 p.m and 7:00 p.m. The complainant thought he had simply lost his keys, however he was advised someone had tried to use his credit card at The Shoppers Drug Mart in Airdrie to make a purchase the night they went missing. It was determined the stolen car keys were used to gain access to his vehicle where several credit cards and pieces of identification were stolen from his wallet.

The male suspects is described as a Caucasian male, fair skinned, wearing a Red Black and White baseball cap and medium blue jacket with a Black t-shirt underneath.  The suspect was reported using one of the stolen credit cards to buy 4 prepaid Visa cards valued at $250.00 each and 2 pre-paid Esso gas cards valued at $100.00 each. The transaction was declined as he did not have the security pin. A picture of the suspect has been obtained, and police are asking the public's assistance in identifying him.

 

Police are asking for assistance in solving this crime and identifying this suspect. If you have any information on this incident please contact the Airdrie RCMP at (403) 945-7200 or Crime Stoppers at 1 (800) 222-8477.

RCMP Red Deer City charge two men after break-ins and flight from officer

Red Deer City RCMP have identified and charged two individuals responsible for the break in on November 21, 2013 at approximately 10:00 pm on the 200 block of Duston Street in Red Deer.

38 year old Darrell Mark Myshak of Sylvan Lake, Alberta has been charged with the following Criminal Code offenses:

• S. 348 C.C. – Break and Enter (x 5)
• S. 351 (1) C.C. – Possession of Break In Tools
• S. 249.1 (1) C.C. – Flight from a Peace Officer
• S. 249 (1) C.C. – Dangerous Operation of a Motor Vehicle
• S. 354 C.C. – Possession of Stolen Property (x 6)

28 year old Kyle Meckler of no fixed address has been charged with the following Criminal Code offenses:

• S. 348 C.C. – Break and Enter (x 5)
• S. 351 (1) C.C. – Possession of Break In Tools
• S. 249.1 (1) C.C. – Flight from a Peace Officer
• S. 249 (1) C.C. – Dangerous Operation of a Motor Vehicle
• S. 354 C.C. – Possession of Stolen Property (x 6)
• S. 145 (3) C.C. – Breach of Recognizance (x 2)

Red Deer RCMP has been in contact with surrounding police jurisdictions in regard to the arrests that have been made, including Ponoka and Sylvan Lake, as it is believed that these individuals have been committing crimes in the surrounding areas.

If you have information that will assist the RCMP in this investigation, you are asked to call the Red Deer City RCMP at 403.343.5575, or Crime Stoppers at 1.800.222.8477.

Fort McMurray Man charged in relation to Robberies

On November 16, 2013, Derek Cardinal (29) of Fort McMurray was arrested and charged with two counts of Robbery. As investigations progressed, RCMP members determined that Cardinal was responsible for both the Dickensfield Shell robbery and the downtown City Centre Auto Wash robbery that took place on November 14, 2013.

 

Cardinal has since been released from custody and is to appear in provincial court on December 2, 2013.

 

Background (Released 2013-11-15):

 

On November 14th 2013, at 7:30 p.m. Wood Buffalo RCMP responded to an armed robbery at the City Centre Auto Wash in downtown Fort McMurray. The initial investigation reveals that a male entered the car wash, threatened the cashier with a knife and demanded the money from the till. The suspect then fled the carwash with an undisclosed amount of money and headed towards the Landmark Cinema. No one was injured in the incident.

 

The suspect is described as light skinned, stocky build, 6’3” or 6’4”, 220 lbs, in his late 20’s or early 30’s, wearing a white coloured hooded sweater with a dark coloured logo and jeans.

 

The investigation continues and police are asking anyone with information to contact the Wood Buffalo RCMP.

 

Background (Released 2013-11-14):

 

Earlier today at 7:30 a.m. Wood Buffalo RCMP responded to a complaint of a robbery that had just taken place at the Shell gas station in Dickensfield. RCMP attended along with the Police Dog Services.

 

The initial investigation reveals that a Aboriginal man entered the Shell at approximately 7:30 a.m.  and demanded money from the till. The employee preceded to hand the suspect an undisclosed amount of money before the suspect fled the scene.  No weapon was produced and no injuries were sustained during the incident.

 

The suspect is described as a First Nations male, tall, stocky, wearing a black jacket.

 

The investigation continues and police are asking anyone with information to contact the Wood Buffalo RCMP. Further information will be release as it becomes available.

Busy start to Holiday Drinking and Driving campaign in Stony Plain/Spruce Grove area

Capital West Integrated Traffic Unit have had a busy start to the Christmas Holiday Drinking and Driving Campaign.

 

Since November 4th, 23 impaired drivers have been apprehended and charged with drinking and driving related offences in and around the Stony Plain / Spruce Grove area.

 

The highest blood / alcohol reading has been 280 mgs % with impaired drivers being apprehended at 9:00 in the morning on a Wednesday and 6:00 in the morning on a Sunday.

 

RCMP continue to remind drivers not to drink and drive or if out celebrating the Holiday Season to use Public Transportation, Designated Drivers or Taxi's.

 

On average in Alberta, one in five drivers involved in a fatal collisions have been drinking prior to the collision. This compares to an average of about one in twenty drivers involved in injury collisions. As the severity of the collision increases, so does the likelihood that the collision involved a drinking driver.

 

Impaired driving is a crime and it will be treated as such. Alberta is getting tough on impaired drivers. You will be caught.

Christmas season Check Stops announced for Edmonton area

The Capital Region Integrated Traffic Unit (ITU), which is comprised of RCMP Traffic Services and the Alberta Sheriffs,  in collaboration with our enforcement partners, will step up efforts in December to combat impaired driving throughout the Edmonton area.  The ITU is committed to improving public safety on all Alberta Highways.  When motorists follow safe driving practices, they reduce the risk of death and injury to themselves and others.  Reducing the number of impaired driving incidents is one of the ITU's top traffic priorities.

Impaired driving is a crime and will be treated as such.  Driving while impaired by drugs and refusing to comply with a demand for physical sobriety tests or to provide bodily fluid samples is a criminal offence.  Drivers who are pulled over on suspicion of drug impairment may be asked to complete the Standard Field Sobriety Tests (SFST), which check for divided attention impairment.  These tests help give an officer the reasonable and probable grounds to then ask for a drug recognition investigation.  It is important for drivers to remember that you do not have to be legally drunk to be charged with impaired driving.

Impaired driving imposes enormous costs on our society.  Families, the health care costs, the legal system, insurance rates and the general public are all negatively impacted and all pay the price for impaired driving.  Drivers who drink and drive may kill themselves, their friends or entire families resulting in very serious legal, financial, social and other consequences.  Even worse, drivers who drink and drive may be involved in a crash that harms someone they love.

Reducing impaired driving on Alberta's highways will save lives, prevent injuries and lower insurance costs.  "There are still irresponsible drivers out there who think that can drink alcohol and still drive safely.  From 2007 to 2011, on average each year over 100 people were killed and over 1,600 people were injured in collisions involving at least one driver who had consumed alcohol prior to the crash.  Specifically in 2011, 78 people were killed and 1,391 were injured", says Supt. Howard Eaton, Officer in Charge of RCMP Traffic Services in Alberta.  Supt. James Stiles, Deputy Director of Alberta Traffic Sheriffs says that, " On average over the past five years, approximately 8400 people were convicted of impaired driving in Alberta each year".

National Impaired Driving statistics

• Impaired driving is the leading criminal cause of death in Canada.  
• Alcohol is involved in nearly 40 percent of all motor vehicle collisions in Canada.
• One in every 33 drivers on Canadian roads at night are impaired.
• Young drivers under the age of 19 are 251 times more likely to be involved in a fatal collision with a blood alcohol concentration in excess of 150 milligrams percent.
• According to Transport Canada, drivers with a high blood alcohol concentration over 170 milligrams percent represent 64 percent of night time fatal crashes.
• People with a blood alcohol reading in excess of 170 milligrams percent are 461 times more likely to be involved in a fatal motor vehicle collision.

Alberta Impaired Driving statistics

• On average for the past five years, approximately 8,100 people are convicted for impaired driving related offences in Alberta.
• On average over the past five years, approximately 8,300, 24 hours driving disqualifications are issued each year under the provisions of the Alberta Traffic Safety Act.
• Statistics show that males between 18 and 24 years of age are the most likely to have been drinking before a crash.
• On average in Alberta, one in five drivers involved in fatal crashes have been drinking prior to the collision.

What can Albertans do to combat Impaired Driving?

• Make the right choice for everyone - don't drive if you have been drinking or using drugs
• Plan ahead for safe transportation - there are alternatives to impaired driving
• If you encounter a suspected impaired driver, record the licence plate number and dial 911 anywhere in the province.