Only one of two men who were allegedly responsible for break-ins at the Servus Credit Union and the Esso Gas Station in Rimbey has been charged, and the incidents are still being investigated.
Zane Curtis Bronson was handed 35 charges by the RCMP on August 7 in relation to the Rimbey break-ins as well as incidents in Breton and Hinton.
He appeared in Breton provincial court on Aug. 12 to face charges of dangerous driving and failure to stop for police. He also faces two charges of assault with a weapon on a police officer and possession of break-in instruments. He is looking at three charges of possession of stolen property under $5,000 and one charge of possession of stolen property over $5,000.
He has been charged with driving while prohibited, resisting arrest and mischief and also faces various firearms and traffic related offences.
He will appear in Hinton provincial court on Aug. 19 to answer to the charges of break and enter, administering a noxious thing, assault with a weapon, theft of a motor vehicle and theft over $5,000.
He will appear in Rimbey provincial court on Sept. 4 to answer to the charges of theft of a motor vehicle, arson to a vehicle, possession of a firearm while committing an indictable offence and possession of a firearm dangerous to the public peace.
He is also facing two break and enter charges, two charges of break-in instruments, two charges of having his face masked and two charges of mischief under $5,000 as well as a charge of mischief over $5,000.
Bronson will also appear in Mayerthorpe provincial court on August 13 and Edmonton provincial court on August 17 for outstanding warrants.
Andy William Rogers, 34, of Penhold faces eight charges in relation in the incident in Breton. He appeared in Breton provincial court on Aug. 12 for possession of break-in instruments, three charges of possession of stolen property under $5,000 and one charge of possession of stolen property over $5,000 and three firearms related charges.
“At this time there is no evidence to support a charge against Rogers for the Rimbey break-ins,” said Sgt. Josee Valiquette, Alberta RCMP Media Relations Officer.
Valiquette encourages the public to notify the Rimbey RCMP or Crime Stoppers if they have any information about the incident.
“This situation could have been a recipe for disaster,” said Superintendent Kevin Murray, Acting District Commander of RCMP Central District.
“I was very happy to hear that neither the general public, nor my members, were injured while apprehending these men.”
The two men were arrested Aug. 7 after officers observed a truck driving at high speeds on Hwy. 22 about 35 kilometres north of Rocky Mountain House.
The officers pulled the vehicle over, but the truck driver rammed the police patrol car, and later appeared to attempt to run over an officer who had gotten out of the police car.
The officer was not injured and the driver took off pursued by the police.
The chase ended when the occupants of the truck left the vehicle and took off on foot. They were apprehended by the police just before noon on Aug. 7. Officers found a loaded long barreled shotgun, stolen property, over $2,000 in cash, cartons of cigarettes and stolen identification documents including license plates.