Policing in Alberta to July 4, 2014

Innisfree man found deceased (update)

Collision near St. Paul claims two lives

Fatal MVC at Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation
Fatal MVC near Lavoy
Alleged child predator caught in Fort McMurray hotel sting
Airdrie man struck with pipe after argument
St. Albert RCMP teach bike safety
Grimshaw woman sentenced for trafficking
Spruce Grove traffickers charged
Suspicious fire in High River
Church in Peace River robbed
Calgary river advisories still in effect

Missing man Imants Zarins found deceased near Innisfree (update)

On July 7, 2014 at approximately 1:45 pm Vermilion RCMP officers were advised of the discovery of a motor vehicle in dense brush off a gravel road in a rural area south of Innisfree, Alberta. The mid to late 1990s Pontiac Grand Am had been discovered by a person walking in the area. The vehicle had come to rest against a tree.

Upon arrival at the scene, RCMP officers discovered a single motor vehicle collision. A deceased man was located inside the vehicle and was subsequently identified as Imants ZARINS, a 35-year-old foreign worker from Latvia, who had been reported missing from Innisfree, Alberta on June 30, 2014. Mr. Zarins had last been seen on or about June 28, 2014 and reported missing after failing to show up for work.

Mr. Zarins' family has been notified of his passing.

Early investigation suggests that Mr. Zarin died in the collision and this investigation is continuing. Foul play is not suspected.

Collision near St. Paul claims two lives

 On June 30, 2014 at about 2:00 p.m., St. Paul RCMP officers were dispatched to a fatality collision involving three vehicles on Highway 28 just east of the Mallaig turn off. A 49 year old male driver and a 52 year old female passenger from Edmonton died as a result of the collision.

Investigators determined that an eastbound SUV crossed the centre line and collided with a westbound travel trailer. The SUV then proceed to collide with a westbound minivan which was following behind the trailer. The minivan then entered the North ditch where it came to a rest and immediately caught on fire.

Quick acting motorists pulled a 12 year old female from the burning vehicle. The two remaining occupants were unable to be removed as the fire had fully engulfed the vehicle.

The 27 year old female driver of the SUV and the 12 year old female were transported to hospital in St. Paul and were later air lifted by STARS Air Ambulance to an Edmonton hospital.

The four occupants of the truck that was hauling the travel trailer were unharmed.

Fatal MVC at Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation

At approximately 2:20 p.m. on Thursday, July 3rd, 2014 Valleyview RCMP received a complaint of a two vehicle collision on Highway 43 approximately 10 km West of Valleyview within the Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation Reserve. An eastbound 2010 Buick Lucerne driven by a 78 year old male from Crooked Creek Alberta collided head-on with a westbound Hyundai Santa Fe driven by a 62 year old female from Debolt Alberta. The 78 year old male was declared deceased on scene. The 62 year old female was transported to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Grande Prairie by ground ambulance with undetermined but non life threatening injuries.

Photo courtesy of Valleyview RCMP

 The matter is still under investigation and the cause of this collision is not yet determined. Speed and alcohol are not believed factors in the collision and the road and weather conditions were good at the time of the accident. The driver of each vehicle was the sole occupant. The names of the involved parties are not being released at this time pending family notifications.

Fatal MVC near Lavoy

On July 3, 2014, at 3:33 pm, Vegreville RCMP were dispatched to a single vehicle collision on highway 16, 2 kilometres east of Lavoy. The 35 year old male, a resident of Ft. McMurray, was the lone occupant and died at the scene. No other vehicles were involved in the collision.

The investigation revealed that a Ford F350 was traveling west on Highway 16 before losing control, entering the centre median, rolling and landing on its passenger's side, blocking both east bound lanes. Eastbound lanes of Highway 16 were closed for several hours and traffic was re-routed before re-opening.

The investigation is on going and police believe speed was a contributing factor.

Break and Enter and Sexual Assault in Brooks

Sometime in the early morning of July 2nd, 2014 at approximately 2:30 am, a non-white male broke and entered a Princess Place, Brooks residence and sexually assaulted a female while she was sleeping. The suspect is described as follows:

• Non-white, described as Aboriginal or Asian in appearance.
• Approximately 21 years old
• 5’3 – 5’4
• Medium build
• Short black hair
• Newer blue jeans, no t-shirt
• Darker black tattoo on left shoulder, resembles breast cancer ribbon shape
• Teal green tattoo below the belly button, may be part of a dragon
• Clean shaven face
• Brown eyes

The suspect was last seen heading towards the Princess Place/Queensway area.

The Brooks RCMP is requesting the assistance of the public for any information and identify the person(s) responsible for the break and enter/sexual assault. Please contact the Brooks Detachment at 403-794-4400or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or visit www.brookscrimestoppers.com with any available tips or information. 

Alleged child predator caught in Fort McMurray hotel sting

Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team (ALERT) has arrested a 30-year-old Fort McMurray man following allegations he attempted to arrange for sex with an underage girl.

Jason Arthur Laurier was arrested inside a Fort McMurray hotel, where the accused presumed he was meeting a 13-year-old girl for sex. ALERT internet child exploitation investigators and Wood Buffalo RCMP members made the arrest on June 27.

Laurier had allegedly been soliciting underage sex online. The underage girl he conversed with, and propositioned for sex with explicit messages, was actually an ALERT investigator. Laurier has been charged with 13 offences, including:

• making child pornography;
• attempted sexual assault;
• attempted sexual interference;
• attempted procuring;
• luring (x 9).

"ALERT routinely uses undercover officers to facilitate luring and exploitation investigations and will employ a variety of techniques to protect children," said Sgt. Mike Lokken.

Investigators believe it is possible there are more victims in the area. Anyone who may have additional information on this or any other child exploitation offence is encouraged to contact their local police, Crime Stoppers or Cybertip.ca 

Airdrie man struck with pipe after argument

On June 27 at approximately 4:15pm, an Airdrie man (victim) became involved in an argument with a second unidentified male (suspect) who was unknown to him. The victim attempted to drive away on Big Hill Road, and the suspect jumped a fence and entered the roadway in front of the vehicle.

The suspect smashed out the window of the victim's vehicle with a pipe, then struck the victim with the pipe. The suspect then pulled the victim out of his vehicle and struck him in the face. The suspect then fled the scene with a third unidentified male who collected the pipe before leaving.
The victim sustained undisclosed injuries.

The suspect is described as follows;

• Caucasian
• Long Black Hair
• 5’9”
• 160lbs
• Moustache / goatee
• Black t-shirt and shorts
• Chain on wallet

Airdrie RCMP is requesting the public’s assistance in identifying the suspect, and request that anyone with information contact the Airdrie RCMP.

If you have information, please call the Airdrie RCMP at 403-945-7267. If you want to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers by phone at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), or by internet at www.tipsubmit.com. You do not have to reveal your identity to Crime Stoppers, and if you provide information to Crime Stoppers that leads to an arrest(s), you may be eligible for a cash reward.


St. Albert RCMP teach bike safety

St. Albert RCMP are busy teaching bicycle safety to youth at the St. Albert Daycare Society programs. On July 3, 2014, Cpl. Kading and Cst. Burroughs held a bike rodeo at Wildrose School in the morning with 17 kids in attendance. In the afternoon, Cst. Avoine and Cst. McKay held a bike rodeo at Ronald Harvey School for 20 youth. At both events, the officers checked bike helmets to make sure they were worn properly and also taught the youth the proper bike signals to use when riding.

Cst. Burroughs teaching hand signals to youth at Wildrose School

Cst. McKay in his RCMP Bike Patrol uniform teaching
youth at Ronald Harvey School bicycle safety

A third bike rodeo is being held at the Fountain Park Daycare on July 4, 2014.

"The RCMP love seeing families being active and out on their bikes in St. Albert. Just remember that St. Albert has a by-law mandating all cyclists regardless of age to wear a bicycle helmet." says Cst. McKay who is one of the RCMP Bike Patrol officers for St. Albert.

Grimshaw woman sentenced for trafficking

On Sunday, March 2nd, 2014, members of the Peace Regional RCMP observed a suspicious vehicle parked at an apartment complex in the town of Grimshaw. An investigation ensued which resulted in the seizure of 113.9 grams of Cocaine, 29.3 grams of Methamphetamine, an assortment of prescription pills packaged for distribution and over $14,000 in Canadian currency. The driver, 24 year old Rebecca Garnett, was charged with four counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking, two counts of possession of a controlled substance, one count of obstruction and one count of possession of property obtained by crime over $5000. The approximate street value of the seized drugs is over $15,000.

The Peace Regional RCMP General Investigations Section (GIS) furthered the investigation with the execution of a search warrant at a Grimshaw residence which resulted in the seizure of drug paraphernalia, packaging materials, digital scales and multiple cell phones.

On June 18th, 2014, Rebecca Garnett plead guilty to two counts of Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking and Possession of Proceeds of Crime over $5000. Garnett received a sentence of two years incarceration, a DNA order, and a lifetime firearms prohibition.

Spruce Grove traffickers charged

On June 27th, 2014, Spruce Grove/Stony Plain RCMP Drug Section arrested two individuals following an investigation into the local drug trade.

30 year old Daniel WARNER of Cherhill, AB and 18 year old Ysobel COTE of Spruce Grove, AB have been charged with the following offences:

• Possession of Methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking
• Possession of Cocaine for the purpose of trafficking
• Investigation revealed that WARNER was bound by a Recognizance as a result of recent charges of Criminal Harassment and Uttering Threats. 
• Subsequently WARNER was also charged with three counts of Breach of Recognizance.

Approximately 32 grams of cocaine, 10 grams of methamphetamine, digital scales, cellular phones, and a knife were seized by police.

COTE was released from custody on a $1000 no cash Recognizance. WARNER was released on $1000 cash bail. Both are to appear in Stony Plain Provincial Court on July 16th.

"The Spruce Grove/Stony Plain RCMP Drug Section continues to work diligently to arrest and charge those involved in drug trafficking in our community," states Cst. Kathleen Fossen of the Spruce Grove/Stony Plain RCMP.

Suspicious fire in High River

On July 2,  2014 at approximately 12:40 am High River RCMP members were called to the Coop housing Seniors Complex to investigate a suspicious fire. Unknown person(s) set fire to the bulletin board located in the front entrance way as well as news papers stored in a bin outside the front door. The fire was contained and did not spread to any other part of the building.

Approximately one hour after departing the scene, RCMP members along with High River Fire were called back to the same location, as another fire was set to the same Bulletin board causing the complex to be evacuated for a second time. The extent of the damage was contained to the front entry way of the complex.

High River RCMP is looking for public assistance in finding the person(s) responsible for this arson. If you have any information that would help in the investigation please call the High River RCMP at 403-652-2357 or Crime Stoppers.

Church in Peace River robbed

Peace Regional RCMP are investigating a break and enter at the Seven Day Adventist Church located at 9812 98th Avenue in Peace River. Sometime between the evening of Tuesday June 3rd, 2014, and Thursday June 5th, 2014, one or more suspect(s) entered the church through a window. Items taken from the church included musical instruments, electronic equipment and a computer. The sum value of items taken is estimated at just under $5000.

Police are looking for the public’s assistance in this matter. If you have any information on this, or any other crime, please call the local police detachment at 780-624-6611 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS(8477). Crime Stoppers is anonymous, and if you provide information that leads to an arrest you could be eligible for a cash reward.

Calgary river advisories still in effect

Calgary Fire Department and partners urge staying off rivers this weekend.

On July 3, 2014 officials from the Calgary Fire Department (CFD), Calgary Police Service (CPS) and Animal & Bylaw Services (ABS) were alongside the Bow River to update on river conditions and remind about river safety and the high-flow stream advisory that is still in effect on the Bow and Elbow Rivers.

“We advise that people continue to stay off of the rivers, as the water is still very fast and has poor visibility, making it dangerous for even experienced paddlers, kayakers and rafters,” said Deputy Chief Ken Uzeloc of the Calgary Fire Department. “Over the past few weeks, our Aquatic Rescue team has responded to calls of overturned boats and missing boaters. We do not want anyone to be harmed or to take unnecessary risks.”

A river safety advisory has been in effect for the Bow and Elbow Rivers since last year’s flood due to the many new and unknown hazards in and around the rivers. A video is available showing many of these hazards at www.calgary.ca/fire.

On May 29th and on June 17th, a high-stream flow advisory was also issued for the Bow and Elbow Rivers respectively after continued rainfall and snow pack melting resulted in faster river flow and poor visibility.

“As a Partner in River Safety, we want to ensure that when conditions are appropriate, that all citizens know and follow the bylaws to stay safe on the water,” said Dorlene Hemm, Operations Coordinator with Animal & Bylaw Services. She reminded that failing to wear a personal flotation device (PFD) or life jacket while boating is the law and that consuming alcohol while on the water is illegal, as is the transport of alcohol.

Calgary Bylaw Officers will be out this weekend to enforce bylaws related to water safety, which can be found at www.calgary.ca, search ‘River Safety Tips’.

In addition to having CFD boats and the CPS Marine Unit on the Bow River, CFD members, Bylaw and Police Officers will be reminding raftersat put in locations about river conditions, safety concerns as well as Calgary’s laws and bylaws.

For more information on river advisories and river safety please visit www.calgary.ca/fire.

The Partners in River Safety want to ensure everyone safely and respectfully enjoys the city’s rivers, parks, pathways, and recreation areas this summer.