Bashaw RCMP responded to a complaint of a suspicious package on March 15 at 10:23 a.m., containing an unknown substance at the Canada Post office in Bashaw.
The RCMP and Bashaw Fire personnel attended and in collaboration with Canada Post, the office was evacuated, the package was secured and the office was closed.
Any staff that was present or in contact with the package was assessed and cleared by Bashaw EMS.
As a precaution, the RCMP Clandestine Laboratory Enforcement and Response (CLEAR) Team was called to remove and identify the package and the substance within it.
The package was determined to be non-suspicious.
This incident took place over several hours.
Theft
Coronation RCMP received a complaint of theft from the Castor Bottle Depot. Sometime between Wed. March 15 6:30 p.m. and Thurs. March 16, 8:30 a.m. an unknown suspect vehicle drove the alley entering from the east behind the Castor Bottle Depot. The suspect(s) proceeded to steal alarge quantity of domestic brown beer bottles that were on a pallet behind the depot.
Coronation RCMP also are investigating a complaint of break and enter at Jordahl Enterprise on March 13 at approximately 4 a.m. Surveillance shows a pick-up truck drove west on the back alley and parked in front of a white outbuilding. A lone suspect, believed to be male, exits the vehicle and gains entry to the building stealing several new tires.
Again, a lone suspect, believed to be male, exits the vehicle and gains entry into the same outbuilding once again stealing several tires as well as a set of tires mounted on rims.
Investigators are asking anyone who may have information regarding this occurrence to contact Coronation RCMP at 403-578-3666 or Crimestoppers.
Collision involving a fire truck
Killam RCMP, EMS and Fire attended to the scene of a single motor vehicle roll over on Highway 13 west of the Town of Daysland on March 17 at 7:50 a.m.
Upon arrival and prior to being able to set up traffic control, a fire truck that was blocking the west bound lane was struck from behind by a semi truck.
At the time of the collision, the emergency lights were activated on the fire truck. The Fire Truck sustained substantial damage, luckily no fire fighters were injured in the collision. The driver of the Semi Truck was taken to hospital with minor injuries and later released. At the time of the collision there was heavy fog in the area, visibility was zero and the road were covered in ice. The collision is still under investigation.
Ninety charges
A complex investigation started after Ponoka RCMP received a complaint on March 16, 2017 at 7:22 a.m. that there was a two vehicle collision near Crestomere, Ab. where one truck was attempting to pull another truck out of the ditch.
A series of events followed and with the assistance of the Ponoka Integrated Traffic Unit, Rimbey, Maskwacis and Wetaskiwin RCMP detachment members as well as other specialized RCMP units, three men were ultimately arrested and 12 different investigations were cleared by charges.
On March 15, 2017 Red Deer RCMP received a report of a stolen Ford F-350 and an investigation was launched.
The following day, the first call Ponoka RCMP received on March 16, 2017 at 7:22 a.m., was in relation to the above referenced collision.
At 7:51 a.m., Ponoka RCMP received a complaint that a Dodge truck was stolen from the County Office and a Chevrolet truck was stolen near an adjacent property.
Prior to RCMP arrival, the Dodge truck, towing a trailer with two quads, was freed from the ditch and departed, with what was identified as the Ford F-350 stolen from Red Deer.
A Chevrolet truck was abandoned at the collision scene.
After a short time the Dodge truck again became stuck in a ditch and when RCMP members arrived, the occupants fled in the stolen Ford F-350 and left the Dodge truck.
RCMP members later located the Ford F-350 and took three male suspects into custody without any incident.
The Ford F-350 was found to be full of stolen property. The recovered trailer and quad were stolen. As well, the stolen Chevrolet truck abandoned at the initial collision was loaded with stolen property.
The majority of the stolen property and vehicles have been returned to their owners. Some items, including credit cards, are pending return. A shotgun which was stolen from a shop in Sylvan Lake was located hidden and retrieved by the RCMP.
The three accused; 46-year-old William Wilkie, of Innisfail, 51-year-old William Gladue and an unidentified man, both of Red Deer, face a total of 90 charges between the three of them.
Twelve area investigations have been cleared by the RCMP including complaints from Ponoka, Sylvan Lake, Red Deer, Rocky Mountain House, Innisfail and Blackfalds Detachments.
Release hearings have been held.
Wilkie and Gladeau remain in custody. Their next court date is scheduled for March 24, 2017 in Ponoka.
“We’re always grateful to the public for bringing suspicious activities to the RCMP’s attention” says Staff Sergeant Mike Numan of Ponoka RCMP.
