Mounties arrest 14 repeat offenders from across Alberta in blitz

RCMP have charged 14 people they say are prolific offenders who are known or suspected to be involved in crime at industrial sites.

Fourteen offenders have been charged and more than 40 criminal charges laid after RCMP held a blitz focusing on offenders believed to be involved in crimes against oil, electrical, and critical infrastructure sites between Nov. 24 and Dec. 5.

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Many of the people arrested are considered by the RCMP to be offenders causing the most harm in Alberta.

In addition to the arrests, six stolen vehicles were recovered.

Nov. 26

A suspect was observed stealing lumber in the Lethbridge area.

Police attempted to arrest him, but he ran. He was later arrested at a home.

A 36-year-old Claresholm man has been charged with:

• theft under $5,000;
• dangerous operation of a motor vehicle;
• flight from police;
• drive while prohibited;
• possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose; and
• two counts of failure to comply with court orders.

The suspect, who RCMP is the 127th worst offender in the province, remains in custody.

Nov. 27

Police arrested a man with three outstanding warrants in Edson.

The 46-year-old man was charged with two counts of failing to comply with court orders.

He remains in custody.

Also on Nov. 27, a man described by police as a “known copper thief” was arrested in Edson on warrants for possession of stolen property over $5,000, assault, and failing to comply with release orders.

The man, who is ranked as the 949th worst offender in Alberta, was released on conditions.

Nov. 28

One person was arrested and two stolen vehicles were recovered in Drayton Valley.

Police say the first stolen vehicle had been left running with the keys inside while parked outside a local business when a suspect got in and drove away.

The vehicle was located near a second stolen vehicle, resulting in the recovery of both vehicles.

A 23-year-old resident of Sunchild First Nations was arrested and charges are pending for theft of a motor vehicle.

He is ranked as the 323rd worst offender in the province by Mounties.

Nov. 29

While searching for a suspect at their home in Parkland County, police saw two stolen vehicles leaving the area.

Police say one of the vehicles rammed an RCMP cruiser as they tried to stop it, but they were able to arrest the driver after the crash.

The second driver was arrested after Mounties deployed a tire deflation device.

An 18-year-old man from Spring Lake, Alta., who had recently been released from custody was charged with:

• flight from police;
• dangerous operation of a motor vehicle;
• possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000;
• assaulting a police officer; and
• fail to stop after an accident.

Police say he is ranked the 27th worst offender in Alberta.

A 33-year-old man of no fixed address who also had an arrest warrant in Tofield was charged with:

• flight from police;
• dangerous operation of a motor vehicle;
• possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000;
• driving while prohibited; and
• resisting arrest.

Both men remain in custody.

Dec. 2

Mounties were patrolling in Mayerthorpe when they spotted a known offender driving a stolen vehicle.

When the vehicle stopped for gas police approached the driver, but say he tried to leave the scene in another vehicle.

He was stopped by officers before he could get away.

A 60-year-old man from Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation, Alta., was charged with:

• flight from police;
• possession of stolen property;
• driving while unauthorized; and
• failing to comply with release conditions.

He was released from custody on conditions.

Dec. 4

A 29-year-old Sedgewick, Alta., man was located in the community while people were checking the addresses of priority offenders.

The man was arrested for failing to comply with a release order and remains in custody.

Dec. 5

Police tried to stop a man they describe as a known offender in Yellowhead County who was driving a stolen vehicle.

The man drove off, but was later located at a home he had broken into.

A 43-year-old Edson man was charged with:

• possession of stolen property over $5,000;
• possession of stolen property under $5,000;
• flight from police;
• fraudulent concealment;
• dangerous operation of a motor vehicle;
• drive while unauthorized; and
• being unlawfully in a dwelling house.

“These operations are important to the safety of Albertans as they allow for the use of varied specialized units to target priority offenders who are prolific in the offenses they commit, and thus being proactive in our policing approach,” Staff Sgt. Luke Halvorson told reporters at a news conference on Thursday.

“We observed that offenders are nomadic and travel across Alberta to find local partners to continue to proliferate their crimes.

“Thanks to the resources available to the Alberta RCMP, we are able to efficiently coordinate investigations such as these and make sure that no matter where crime, criminal commits their crimes, we will make sure to catch them.”