Rimbey RCMP detachment investigated over 50 files this week. Highlights include a reported hostage taking, illegal firearms, drugs, sexual assault, break and enter and other serious matters.
Hostage taking
On Thursday evening, June 26, a man called 911 to report his wife had been taken hostage and was being held at knife point. Mounties immediately responded to the area and contained a rural farm west of town. During the course of the investigation, a local man was found to be armed with a loaded firearm. Officers from Sylvan Lake, Ponoka and other jurisdictions assisted Rimbey members by briefly closing Highway 53 in order to keep officers and the general public safe until the matter was resolved. A 47-year-old man, a resident of Ponoka County, peacefully gave himself up and was arrested without further incident. Two firearms and ammunition were seized from the scene. Alcohol was a factor in this case. Charges are pending the outcome of the investigation.
COP go into action
An alert member of Gull Lake North Citizens on Patrol (COP) called police to report a suspicious vehicle in the lake area. Police patrolling the neighbourhood received another tip of a possible impaired driver in the same area. Officers located a 48-year-old man, a resident of Ponoka County, intoxicated in his vehicle. The accused was arrested and charged for impaired driving and blew a staggering 270 mg% on the breathalyzer. The accused's pickup truck was also impounded.
Impaired driver charged
June 30, at approximately 3:15 p.m., police, fire and EMS personnel responded to a rollover on Leedale Road. At that same time, police observed a man stumbling into a liquor store in town after he nearly fell out of his pickup truck parked out front. With enough resources responding to the collision, the officer returned to the liquor store to stop the man from driving but found he had already left. Police patrolled the area and located the 47-year-old man driving home to his residence just west of town. The driver was arrested and charged with impaired driving and blew nearly double the legal limit before he even had a chance to open his newly purchased bottle of Vodka. Police seized and impounded the accused's truck and his license was immediately suspended. No one was seriously injured in the rollover.
New officer on board
Rimbey RCMP would like to welcome Constable Carman Dutz as the newest member on strength at the detachment. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience having worked in High River and the Nunavut Territory prior to this posting.
Mounties participate
Mounties were very honoured to stand with so many Legion members at the Canada Day ceremonies at Pas Ka-Poo Historical Park. We are very blessed to live in such a wonderful community in the finest country in the world. If you have not seen the newest exhibits at the park, such as the medical and the armed forces exhibit...you really need to!
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.