In the last week, Rimbey RCMP responded to 52 calls for service.
Your local detachment was kept busy dealing with a rash of vandalism complaints, thefts, domestics, a sudden death, stolen vehicles, apprehending people who were suffering from ingesting hard drugs, missing persons and trespassing complaints.
Vandals use bats and shotgun
The senseless act of vandalism was committed throughout the detachment area all week. Early in the week, vandals smashed more mail boxes north east of Rimbey with baseball bats and shot others with a 12-gauge shotgun. Police have been actively investigating this matter and are pursuing all leads in this case.
In town, youths threw eggs at homes causing considerable damage. North of Gull Lake some heavy equipment, including a large track hoe fell victim to someone smashing out its windows during the night of July 24. In another case in that area, vandals shot a lock on a gate with a rifle in attempts of disabling the lock to gain access to a property. The lock held fast and the would-be thieves failed to gain access to the property.
In another disgusting incident, vandals committed significant damage to the Gull Lake Golf Course during the night of July 27 or very early the next morning. In this case, flag poles were stolen, benches flipped over, greens damaged — and then they defecated in the cups!
Police are working hard on solving this case to bring these disgusting culprits to justice.
Mounties find their men
During the week, police were also heavily involved in trying to locate several missing people. In each case the missing person at large was located safe and sound. However, each of these cases required countless hours of pursuing all leads and following up on tips. The detachment staff would like to thank the many citizens who assisted police in each of these cases.
Natural causes in death
On July 25, police investigated a sudden death where a 59-year-old man was found deceased on his property. Officers completed a thorough investigation working with the Medical Examiner’s Office. The death was found to be natural and there was no foul play.
Bonnie and Clyde, they’re not
On July 26, Mounties had their hands full all day and night. In the early morning officers arrested a 26-year-old man north of Leedale on Range Road 41 in a stolen Ford Explorer that was taken that morning in Drayton Valley from a motel parking lot. He was arrested immediately at the scene where he was attempting to tow the vehicle out of the ditch. His accomplice, a 26-year-old female had run away from the scene prior to police arrival. A warrant has been issued for her arrest.
The stolen vehicle and its occupants were on their way to a residence north of Leedale that police are familiar with. Later that same day, officers responded to a domestic dispute where a 22-year-old man had allegedly assaulted his 19-year-old girlfriend. When police arrested the man, the woman jumped the officer and assaulted him repeatedly. Alcohol was a factor in this case. The man was subject to a court order at the time of the offence to not consume any alcohol due to previous run-ins with the law. Both have been charged with multiple offences.
Lock it or lose it
Another trusting citizen fell victim to thieves this week when his wallet was stolen from his unlocked car overnight. Police remind everyone to lock it up and always store valuables elsewhere.
Fishermen thieves throw boat back
Finally, sometime during the week, unknown culprit(s) attempted to steal a boat from a farm site near Secondary Highway 611. The trailer had a flat tire so the thieves did not take the time to repair the flat and dumped the boat and trailer in the back 40. The thieves did take off with the Johnson outboard motor. Officers have been diligently investigating this matter.
Volume requires more court sittings
In many circumstances such as these noted cases, police lay charges after the investigation is complete which does not make the news. Rimbey provincial court has seen a drastic increase in the number of persons charged and has recently added more court sittings to accommodate the amount of cases being seen by a judge. Regular court dates are the first Friday of each month.
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.