For this report, your Rimbey RCMP responded to 98 calls for service.
Highlights of the calls for service include domestic disputes, stolen property, break and enters, assaults, mental health cases and other serious matters.
Exes exchange threats
Police responded to several domestic situations where threats were stated to cause their significant other harm in some way. In two cases, separated partners were harassing their ex-partner by phone or other means. In many of these cases the Rimbey Victim Service Unit was involved, as well as Children Services. Charges were laid in a number of cases.
Drunks gone batty
Police seized four more guns when they responded to a complaint of shots being fired at night. When officers attended the area they found several drunks having a party and shooting bats in the dark. No one was harmed in this case, however, police strongly urge those who own firearms not to mix alcohol with the use of them.
There have been numerous incidents in the Rimbey area recently where someone was shooting in the air and the shooter did not take into account where the bullet may eventually come down. There have been houses hit, people hit and vehicles struck by stray bullets. Careless use of a firearm is a criminal offence.
RCMP deal with mental health patients
Police apprehended several more mentally ill persons. In two cases, the patients were taken to the hospital for treatment. In many other cases, officers have been working closely with the staff at the Centennial Centre in Ponoka in efforts to resolve some difficult cases involving people dealing with drugs and other issues.
Stolen tractor recovered
Rimbey Mounties received a tip of the whereabouts of a possible stolen John Deere tractor valued at more than $100,000. Police located the tractor in Rimbey and quickly determined that the tractor was in fact stolen from Edmonton and had a falsified serial number from a tractor in Ponoka. In this case, John Deere sent specialists immediately to Rimbey to assist officers with the investigation as the tractor had been tampered with to disguise the fact that it was stolen. The investigation into this matter is still ongoing.
Tip from Crime Watcher helps police
On June 15t at approximately 4 p.m., an active and alert member of the Rimbey District Rural Crime Watch Association called 9-1-1 to report an erratic driver on Highway 53 near Rimbey. Officers quickly responded and arrested a 22-year-old man from Rocky Mountain House when he was stopped. The man was intoxicated and provided breath samples of more than double the legal limit. He was also late for his court appearance in Rocky Mountain House where he was supposed to appear the previous day to answer to a previous impaired driving charge.
In addition to several new criminal charges, he was also charged with more than $3,000 in tickets for operating a vehicle with no insurance, and other offences.
Police also dealt with other alcohol-related driving offences this week and in some cases issued 24-hour roadside suspensions.
Another oil lease hit
Sometime during the night on Monday, June 20 until early morning Tuesday, June 21, someone entered an oil lease site northeast of the Wilson Creek Gas Plant. The midnight shoppers entered a trailer on the site and stole tools and other items valued at more than $1,000. Recently, police have arrested and charged several criminals who have been caught with the stolen property from oil sites in the Rimbey area. However, the theft complaints continue to come in frequently.
Burglars strike downtown
A break and enter occurred on Main Street in Rimbey where a business was broken into on the night of June 22. The suspect pried the back door. The new business owner was diligent and does not leave any money in the premises after closing so the would-be thieves risked serious jail time for nothing.
In addition to this break and enter, another incident was reported that had occurred around the same time frame. In that case, the Legion had been broken into. The investigation into this matter is continuing with the assistance of the RCMP forensic identification section.
There is help for addictions
Police also investigated several matters involving drugs in the community. The current drug trends in Rimbey are disturbing as police are seeing more and more use of methamphetamine (meth). This drug has destroyed entire communities. Police and their partnering agencies are taking this situation very seriously.
If you have a drug or alcohol problem, there is help. Please contact the Rimbey Hospital at (403) 843-2271 and ask for the addictions personnel from Alberta Health Services. If you wish to contact the Red Deer office the number is (403) 340-5274. Help is available. On average, officers in Rimbey have arrested or detained a person involved with meth every week since Jan. 1.
Pool cues used in bar fight
Officers responded again to a bar fight. In this case the offenders had resorted to using pool cues as weapons, however, no one was injured and most of the perpetrators had fled the bar when police were arriving on scene.
Lock it or lose it
Car prowlings continue to occur. Again, more unlocked vehicles were entered in Rimbey and items taken. In one case, a Honda generator was stolen from the back of a pickup truck. Please lock your cars and refrain from storing valuables in the vehicle.
The high cost of getting high
On a lighter note, officers received a complaint from a drug user that the price of illegal drugs in Rimbey has skyrocketed lately to the point that the price they have to pay for their drugs is criminal! The drug user was obviously upset and police will continue to seek ways to ensure that this travesty does not continue. Police are also following up with the drug dealer who reportedly charges “way too much.”
If you have any information on these or any other crimes, please call the Rimbey RCMP at (403) 843-2224 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, #8477 on Telus Mobility or *8477 on Rogers AT&T.
Crime Stoppers is a community program that does work. Do your part and call now.