This week, Rimbey RCMP Detachment responded to 50 calls for service including a break and enter, assault, sex as- sault, child pornography, police pursuits and other serious matters.
Police service dog locates culprits
Early Wednesday morning, a citizen called 911 to report an erratic driver on Highway 2 near Ponoka. Mounties from Rimbey and Ponoka responded to the area and located the vehicle driving west on Highway 53. When police activated their emergency lights and sirens, the truck did not stop. With police in hot pursuit, the driver failed to negotiate a turn onto Highway 771 from Highway 53 and crashed in the ditch.
Two persons were arrested near the disabled vehicle and two fled on foot into the bush nearby. A Police Service Dog attended the scene and subsequently located the two culprits hiding in the woods. One of the men sustained a bite on his leg from the pursuing canine officer.
The investigation revealed the truck was stolen from Edmonton. Many charges are pending the conclusion of the investigation. No one was seriously injured in the crash.
Man charged with distribution of child pornography
On Thursday, April 23, Rimbey Mounties teamed up with the Integrated Child Exploitation (ICE) Unit and conducted a search warrant on a rural residence near Rimbey. A 51-year-old local man was arrested during the search and has been criminally charged with possession, accessing and distribution of child pornography by way of the internet.
Thieves break into rural residence
Sometime in the last three weeks, unknown thieves broke into a house and outbuildings on a rural property west of Rimbey near Range Road 42 north of Highway 53. The criminals stole power tools, an electric log splitter and a leaf blower. Police are currently investigating the matter and following up on leads at this time.
Teenage girl charged with theft
Your local detachment members continue to target chronic habitual offenders in the community who have been released from jail on conditions to abide by. A teenage girl, who is very well known to police, was arrested and charged once again with theft and for breaching her court conditions. She was subsequently charged and taken back into custody.
Reduction in break and enters
Our efforts to reduce crime in our community over the last year by targeting repeat offenders has proved to be worth the effort. Statistics reveal a 31 per cent reduction in break and enters from a year ago. Detachment members have partnered with probation and other police agencies to ensure that those who have been historically criminally active are monitored closely. Police will continue to utilize every tool possible in an effort to reduce crimes in Rimbey.