The Rimbey RCMP responded to more than 55 calls for service during the week. Highlights include multiple dealings with mentally ill persons, a rash of car prowlings, theft, mischief, uttering threats, stray animals on the roadway, a missing person and a drive-by moose leg incident.
Thieves strike rural communities
During the late evening hours on May 2, unknown miscreants rummaged through countless vehicles in the Parkland Beach, Sunnyside and Poulson’s Pasture communities. Culprits entered unlocked vehicles that were left unattended. Many valuable items were stolen such as portable GPS units, money, CDs, hunting gear, etc. Police are actively pursuing leads in the matter with the assistance of the RCMP forensic identification section as the investigation continues.
Livestock at large — again
Officers responded to a complaint of farm animals on Secondary Highway 607. Police had previously laid a charge under the Stray Animals Act against this same landowner. Again, livestock were on the roadway causing a traffic hazard. Further charges are pending in relation to this matter.
Take care with rubbish fires
Officers attended a rural residence where a citizen was deeply concerned that part of his property was burned up by a grass fire the day before. His neighbor had been burning garbage in a burning barrel and it had got away from him in the wind. The fire department attended and doused the fire in time before it had spread to nearby trees. Fortunately, no residences were affected by the fire but police would like to remind everyone to use extra caution when having a fire. It should be monitored at all times and common sense should prevail — if it is windy don’t have one. Ensure you check the Ponoka County website or contact them by phone to see if there is a fire ban in effect and if you require a permit.
Missing woman went camping
Late May 3, Rimbey RCMP received a call from a distressed man stating an adult female had been last seen on May 2 and had planned on going out for the evening. When she did not return home by the next morning he became worried and called police that evening. During the night of May 3 and early morning hours of May 4, officers in Rimbey searched the Open Creek and Medicine Lake area for the missing woman but were unable to locate the woman in the areas she was believed to be last visiting. The umbrella of the search area widened as Breton and Drayton Valley RCMP assisted Rimbey Mounties in searching the Alder Flats area.
At approximately 10 a.m., on May 4, officers located the woman in a remote part in the Buck Lake area. The 32-year-old woman was in good health and camping with people known to her and was unaware that police were looking for her. Please, always let a friend or family member know where you are going camping, hiking or running your ATV and give them the time you anticipate returning home.
Moose kicks at front door
Officers dealt with several mentally ill people in the community this week. In most cases, police became involved because the patients were not taking their prescribed medication and this led to complications.
While we are on that topic, someone threw a moose leg at the front door of a residence. It is not known why anyone would be toting around a moose leg or why they would throw it at someone’s door.
Texting leads to careless driving
There were several hit and run incidents investigated during the week. In one case, a young man narrowly escaped a head on collision on Highway 20 north of Rimbey by driving his truck into the ditch to avoid an oncoming car that had crossed the centre line. The female driver, heading in the opposite direction was texting on her cellphone and was not paying attention. Fortunately, the young man manoeuvred quickly enough to avoid the crash but his vehicle sustained damage from the trees and bushes in the ditch. The female driver stopped at the time but then took off from the scene leaving the male driver without any idea of who she was. The suspect vehicle is described as a white Pontiac Sunfire.
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.