On Sept. 18, 2024, Wetaskiwin RCMP received a report of a group of individuals who had just received an oil change and intentionally left without paying. Members of the Wetaskiwin RCMP Crime Reduction Unit quickly located the vehicle and initiated a traffic sop. The vehicle went into reverse and rammed the officer's vehicle. Despite this, police were able to approach the vehicle and safely arrest all four occupants including the driver who attempted to flee on foot.
A search of the vehicle revealed:
- a shot gun;
- a loaded semi auto assault rifle;
- a modified rifle;
- approximately 15 grams of pre-measured and packaged Fentanyl;
- approximately 100 Gabapentin pills.
RCMP have charged a 25-year-old individual, a resident of Samson Cree Nation, Alta., with:
Possession for the purpose of trafficking in a controlled substance
- Weapons offences (x5)
- Possession of a firearm contrary to order
- Fail to comply with a release order (x3)
The 25-year-old individual was taken before a justice of the peace and remanded into custody with a next court date set for Sept. 24, 2024, at the Alberta Court of Justice in Wetaskiwin.
RCMP have charged a 22-year-old individual, a resident of Ermineskin Cree Nation, Alta., with:
- Weapons offences (x5)
- Possession of a firearm contrary to order (x2)
- Escape lawful custody
- Assault peace officer with a weapon
The 22-year-old individual was taken before a justice of the peace and remanded into custody with a next court date set for Oct. 3, 2024, at the Alberta Court of Justice in Wetaskiwin.
RCMP have charged a 23-year-old individual, a resident of Mackwacis, Alta., with five weapons offences.
The 23-year-old individual was taken before a justice of the Peace and remanded into custody with her next court date set for Sept. 23, 2024, at the Alberta Court of Justice in St. Albert, Alta.
RCMP have charged a 19-year-old individual, a resident of Maskwacis, with:
- Weapon offences (x5)
- Possession of a firearm contrary to order
The 23-year-old individual was taken before a justice of the peace and remanded into custody with a next court date set for Sept. 23, 2024, at the Alberta Court of Justice in Wetaskiwin.
"We are happy to have quickly responded and apprehended these offenders on what began as a fairly minor offence," says Cpl. John Learn of the Wetaskiwin RCMP Crime Reduction Unit. Removing these armed individuals and their weapons from our streets is the type of impact that the Wetaskiwin Crime Reduction strives for."