The Central Alberta District Crime Reduction Unit (CAD CRU) teamed up with Lacombe Police Service in an operation that saw four people arrested and prohibited firearms seized.
The Lacombe Police Service Crime Reduction Team (CRT) contacted CAD CRU for assistance related to a property that was identified as being problematic and associated to criminal activity. Community complaints included concerns about property offences and suspicious activity.
Both agencies collaborated to share intelligence on the people involved on the property, and surveillance was conducted. On Dec. 2, 2020, CAD CRU effected a traffic stop at a parking lot of a local business, and arrested three occupants of a truck that was associated to the property in Lacombe.
The truck was confirmed to be previously stolen out of Saskatoon, Sask. A search of the truck incidental to the arrests led to the discovery and seizure of two loaded SKS semi-automatic rifles with attached high capacity prohibited magazines, a loaded sawed-off shotgun, ammunition, stolen license plates, break and enter tools and a small amount of methamphetamines.
The property representative was also arrested and taken into custody for possession of stolen property.
Two of the subjects arrested in the truck were bound by multiple release orders and were breaching several conditions relating to outstanding charges. As well, they were subject to multiple firearm prohibitions. These arrests led to a total of 116 new criminal code / CDSA charges laid against four accused.
A 28-year-old male and a 34-year-old male were held in custody for a judicial interim release hearing. The 28-year-old male will appear in Red Deer Provincial Court on Dec. 4, while the 34-year-old male is scheduled to appear on Dec. 7, 2020.
The other two accused were released from police custody on Undertakings to appear in Red Deer Provincial Court on Feb. 10, 2021.
Quotes:
"It was a pleasure working with the Lacombe Police Service members and we look forward to more joint operations. These four offenders have been active in both Lacombe and RCMP jurisdictions, and it's always our goal to remove firearms from the wrong hands."
- Corporal Will Hiscock, Central Alberta District Crime Reduction Unit
"This collaborative investigation demonstrates the benefits of Police agencies working together to reduce crime and apprehend serious offenders."
- Sergeant Bryan Zens, Organizational Support NCO, Lacombe Police Service