The Rimbey RCMP detachment responded to a high number of calls for service this week. Highlights of the week include thefts, drugs, breaching court orders, impaired driving and other serious matters.
Don’t drink and drive
On Saturday, March 8, during the supper hour, a drunk driver hit the ditch east of Gull Lake. A concerned citizen called 911 to report the incident. Rimbey members quickly responded to the scene of the crash and arrested the driver who was intoxicated. The accused provided breath samples of nearly twice the legal limit. To date, Rimbey detachment has charged over 40 offenders with impaired driving since April 1 of last year. That does not include the countless motorists who have had their licenses suspended for 24 hours, 72 hours or 30 days. Please don't drink and drive!
Arrest made
On Monday, March 10, at approximately 2 p.m., a ‘groovy’ officer (see last week's paper...lol!) patrolling Centerview Road observed a pickup truck coming out of an acreage driveway that the officer did not recognize from the area. The officer's “spidey senses" were tingling so he stopped the vehicle at Lockhart Road. The driver, a 27-year-old resident of the Red Deer area, was arrested after the alert Mountie found him in possession of over $10,000 of stolen property. During the investigation, police also seized numerous weapons from the accused. The accused has a long history of criminal activity on his record and is also prohibited from possessing any type of weapon for his entire lifetime. During the arrest, the accused stated that he only stopped in the driveway because he was having a mechanical issue. He is now well aware that if you are a criminal passing through Rimbey, don't stop. In this case, the man was charged with numerous criminal offences. The subsequent investigation led police to solving a separate cold case that was over five years old.
Thefts investigated
Police are investigating two more copper wire theft complaints that occurred near Highway 607 west of Rimbey. The investigation into these crimes is continuing as Mounties are utilizing all available resources and following up on all leads at this time.
Back in jail
A young person was released from jail last Friday when they appealed to the judge to give them another chance. The Judge granted the offender leniency and released the young lady from custody. Within 15 hours, police followed up to see if she was abiding by her release conditions only to find that she had already breached them. The young lady was transported back to the Queen's Hotel in a shiny set of silver bracelets.
Tanning bed arrest
Police diligently solved many cases during this reporting period. However, every week there is always one call that no one wants to hear over the police radio. This week, there was a complaint of an intoxicated man passed out in a tanning bed. Knowing the man would likely be in his birthday suit, the officer took an extra pair of gloves with him in the event he had to arrest, or even worse, wrestle a naked man all greased up with lotion. Strangely enough, when the call was dispatched, there was no immediate response of any additional officers attending the scene to back up the lucky officer who had to deal with the matter.
If you have any information regarding these or any other crimes, please call the local Rimbey RCMP Detachment at (403) 843-2224 or Crime Stoppers:
PHONE: 1-800-222-8477
#8477 on Telus Mobility
*8477 on Rogers AT&T
Crime Stoppers is a community program that does work! Do your part and call now.