Policing in Alberta to January 6, 2014

RCMP press releases

• Pincher Creek RCMP media summary for the week of December 30 to January 6, 2014
• Two Hills RCMP arrest man in New Years Eve crime spree
• Highway 2 Motorist ticketed for watching movie while driving in winter storm
• Arson Arrest on Morley Reserve

Pincher Creek RCMP media summary for the week of December 30 to January 6, 2014


The following is an overview of the nature of the complaints that the Pincher Creek Detachment received for the period of December 30 , 2013 to January 6, 2014. Note that the summary indicates what was reported to the police and may not have been substantiated.

Total calls for service - 38
Assaults - 1
Break and Enter (residential) - 1
Mischief (vandalism) - 1
Impaired Driving -3
Driving complaints (general) - 2
MV Collisions - 9
Liquor offences -1
Assistance to General Public (general) - 1
Assistance to other agencies -2
False Alarms - 4
911 calls (invalid) - 1
Animal calls - 1

Two Hills RCMP arrest man in New Years Eve crime spree

During the early morning hours of December 31st, 2013, Two Hills RCMP responded to an active alarm at the Two Hills Liquor Store. Entry had been gained by force and a quantity of liquor had been stolen from the Liquor Store. Video surveillance revealed the masked suspects had fled the scene prior to RCMP arrival. Several other calls for service were received in the Town of Two Hills that same morning, including a residential mischief and a theft from the local EMS station.

Two Hills RCMP conducted a thorough investigation into these matters and were able to determine that all calls for service were related. With the assistance of St. Paul RCMP Detachment, the suspect vehicle and the male suspect were located with the stolen liquor from the Two Hills Liquor Store. Leslie Gerald Wuttunee, 24 years old of Saddle Lake was arrested and charged with several counts of Mischief Under $5000.00, Theft under $5000.00, Break & Enter & Commit an Indictable Offence, Possession of Break-in Instruments and Use of a Disguise with Intent to Commit an Indictable Offence.

A search warrant was executed with the assistance of the St.Paul RCMP Forensic Identification Section (FIS). Several pieces of stolen property were recovered along with other items that are currently the subject of other investigations. A second suspect has yet to be identified and is still at large.

Crime knows no boundaries and greatly affects everyone who falls victim. The RCMP in Alberta work tirelessly and in partnership with other Law Enforcement Agencies and RCMP Specialized Units to ensure thorough and professional services are delivered to the public.

Residents are being urged to lock their vehicles and homes to deter potential criminal acts.

If you have any information relating to this incident, please contact the Two Hills RCMP Detachment at 780-657-2820, or anonymously at Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.tipsubmit.com.

Highway 2 Motorist ticketed for watching movie while driving in winter storm

On Saturday, January 4, at 8:30 PM, members of the Airdrie Integrated Traffic Unit (ITU) were alerted by a concerned motorist to a vehicle traveling southbound on Highway 2 near Carstairs.

Witnesses reported seeing a red Volkswagon Golf traveling southbound and exhibiting an irregular driving pattern. As the witnesses passed the vehicle, it became clear why the driver was having trouble staying in his lane – he had his laptop open on the dash of the vehicle and was watching an episode of Tosh.0.

The concerned witnesses immediately called 911, and Airdrie ITU officers were dispatched. With the white “glow” emanating from the windows of the vehicle, officers had no trouble locating it on the highway.

The driver and lone occupant – a 28 year old male from Edmonton, AB - was issued tickets for distracted driving and failing to produce a valid insurance card.

Acting Sheriff Sergeant Jason Graw, with the Airdrie Integrated Traffic Unit, commented on this incident:

“Unfortunately, our officers see this kind of driver behavior on Highway Two far more often than we would like. This is the third time in recent memory that our officers have caught drivers watching video while behind the wheel, and in this particular case – in the middle of a snowstorm. Obviously, this is concerning to us given that about thirty percent of fatal collisions in our province are attributable to distracted driving.”

Graw continued “Thankfully in this case, concerned motorists alerted our officers to what was going on, and helped us catch up to this individual before tragedy could occur.”

Integrated Traffic Units consist of RCMP Traffic Services members and Sheriff Highway Patrol officers working together in a collaborative effort to deliver effective and efficient traffic safety services to Albertans, with a focus on identified enforcement priorities.

Arson Arrest on Morley Reserve

On January 4, 2014, after investigating a number of suspicious fires on the Stoney First Nation, RCMP Cochrane, General Investigation Section have laid three Criminal Code charges of Arson along with charges of theft of a motor vehicle, break and enter and uttering threats on a 15 year old male from Morley. The name can not be released due to the fact he is a Young Offender.
The fires include two vehicle fires which occurred on December 12 and December 23, 2013. The third fire occurred on December 13, 2013 at the Morley Paint Shop which was totally destroyed. Three other fires which are also deemed to be suspicious are still under investigation by Cochrane RCMP.

The young offender has been remanded in custody.