SGT. DUNCAN BABCHUK, Stettler RCMP detachment
Below is a summary of most calls for Stettler RCMP service from last Tuesday, July 10, to this Tuesday, July 17.
Calls with the “SUI” notation attached are still under investigation. Anyone with information regarding unsolved crimes or incidents is asked to contact Stettler RCMP at 403-742-3382, or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
Tuesday, July 10
11:02 a.m. — Report regarding a concern for safety of a female residing at a 44 Street residence. Investigators attended and spoke with a 49-year-old female who stated that she woke up her 18-year-old son and he became angry for being woken up. The son apologized for yelling and said he just wanted a cup of coffee and that he overreacted. There were no signs of assault or physical confrontation and the male was warned about the volume of his voice when he is angry or upset.
12:25 p.m. — Complaint of a dog in distress inside a pickup truck parked on Main Street. The registered owner of the truck, a 24-year-old female from Stettler, was located. She was advised the dog needs to be kept home when the weather is hot, or kept in the shade or in a vehicle with air conditioning, because it was too hot to leave an animal in a vehicle. The owner understood and said the windows were down and she wanted to leave the vehicle running, but her boyfriend advised against it. No charges.
1 p.m. — Report of a hit and run to a vehicle in the Wal-Mart parking lot. The 50-year-old male owner from Rimbey advised that his automobile was struck in the front end and the car was no longer driveable.
1:34 p.m. — Complaint of an erratic driver on Highway 12 near Nevis, operating a gravel truck and towing a trailer. The truck was reported to be at varying speeds, crossing over the lanes and cut off another motorist at an intersection. The truck wasn’t located.
2:39 p.m. — Residential false alarm on Third Street in Big Valley.
3:56 p.m. — Complaint of a black-coloured Dodge Dakota truck being driven by a female from Stettler, driving through the stop sign southbound on 57 Street on Tower Road. An investigator located the driver at her residence and spoke with her about not stopping at the stop sign. The driver insisted she stopped. She was warned about her driving, as the complainant didn’t wish to attend court.
4:11 p.m. — A 911 call came from a cellphone. The dispatcher could hear normal voices in the background and no sounds of distress. The 58-year-old male phone owner from Vermilion was located at Buffalo Road in White Sands. The call was a result of a pocket dial.
5:28 p.m. — Complaint from a driver from Ponoka about a maroon-coloured Dodge pickup truck with exhaust stacks and being driven dangerously eastbound on Highway 12. The truck passed on the Erskine overpass, almost causing a head-on collision. The truck was driven at excessive speeds. The suspect driver has been identified. SUI
8:46 p.m. — Complaint of five teenagers at Viking Ship park on the playground equipment, being loud and swearing. An investigator attended the area and located four youths on top of the equipment. When questioned, they stated that they weren’t swearing. They were advised to respect that other people were in the same area. No charges.
Wednesday, July 11
9:26 a.m. — A 911 call reported a male in medical distress on 52 Street. An investigator attended to find a 19-year-old in a wheelchair with an IV in his arm. He was also frustrated with his wheelchair and he was trying to get to the hospital. The male was driven to the Stettler hospital.
9:44 a.m. — Report of a single-vehicle collision with a deer on Range Road 20-0, about a quarter-mile north on Highway 601.
2:46 p.m. — A black-coloured bicycle was turned in after sitting in the bike racks at Christ-King school for several weeks. The bike will be held at the detachment for 45 days before being turned over to the town.
3:21 p.m. — Complaint of a silver-coloured Dodge van crossing the centre line on Highway 12, near 67 Street and forcing the oncoming westbound vehicle onto the shoulder. The van was located and the 57-year-old female driver from Bluffton said she was dazed and realized she crossed the centre line. She got out of her vehicle and walked around to stretch. There were no charges and a warning was issued.
6:44 p.m. — A commercial false alarm came from Action Plumbing.
9:04 p.m. — Complaint of an impaired elderly male on a bicycle on the main road near the bowling alley. The caller stated “he can’t even get on the pink bike and seems very intoxicated.” An investigator attended the area and located a 64-year-old male from Emmerson Acres walking his bike in the middle of the highway at the intersection of highways 12 and 56. He was arrested for public intoxication, lodged in police cells and was released in the morning when sober.
Thursday, July 12
1:27 a.m. — Complaint of noise and loud music from the street on 40 Avenue Close. The source of the noise was revealed to be a 17-year-old male from Stettler, who was singing to himself in his truck outside his grandmother’s residence. The investigator observed the cab of the vehicle smelled of marijuana and was full of smoke. The occupant was arrested for possession of a controlled substance and he was escorted to the police car. Search of the vehicle revealed a grinder with marijuana inside, a bong and beer. The male was charged for possession, contrary to the controlled Drugs and Substances Act and unlawful possession of liquor. He is scheduled to attend court on Aug. 14th.
9:36 a.m. — A 911 call reporting a deceased 50-year-old female in the sleeper of a livestock hauling highway truck. Investigators attended Highway 12 across from the John Deere dealership, where they spoke with the driver, who reported picking up a female hitchhiker near Lacombe earlier in the day. Due to the suspicious nature of the incident, investigators from the RCMP Major Crime Unit and Red Deer Forensic Identification Unit were called in to assist with the investigation. The driver was detained for questioning and the truck was seized for further examination. Due to the hot temperature, Stettler Fire washed down the load of pigs inside the trailer. The pigs were then turned over to another driver. The cause of death is inconclusive at this time. SUI
12:02 p.m. — Report of a single-vehicle collision with a deer on Township Road 40-4.
12:32 p.m. — Report of a single-vehicle collision with a deer on Range Road 17-1, eight kilometers south of Highway 12.
1:30 p.m. — Report of a single-vehicle collision with a tree at Old MacDonald’s farm. A bumper struck the tree while the vehicle backed up.
3:50 p.m. — Report of a two vehicle collision at the intersection of Highway 56 and 44 Avenue. A 26-year-old woman from St. Albert reported that her 2012 Ford Focus was struck from behind by a 2000 Ford Focus, being driven by an 85-yearold Stettler woman. SUI
4:37 p.m. — A Good Samaritan turned in a cheque book and pen that was found near the dumpsters at the Stettler Motel. The wife of the owner was contacted in Jasper and she advised that her husband was staying at the motel. The cheques were returned to the owner.
6:44 p.m. — False residential duress alarm at a 68 Street home. The owner advised that he had just had the alarm installed and was trying to arm it.
6:58 p.m. — False residential alarm at the same 68 Street home. The homeowner was still trying to get his alarm system working.
7:25 p.m. — Report of shoplifting on June 6 at the Stop and Go store. SUI
10:05 p.m. — Commercial false alarm at the White Goose restaurant.
11:40 p.m. — False alarm at Carlisle Road house.
Friday, July 13
11:10 a.m. — Report of a two-vehicle collision in front of the TD Bank on Main Street. A 27-year-old female driver from Stettler was backing her Ford Escape when her driver’s rear corner struck the passenger door of a Ford Focus. SUI
11:17 a.m. — Report of small dog in the front seat of a truck parked on Main Street in front of the Medical Clinic. The window was only cracked and the dog was in distress. The truck was located and the investigator checked on the dog. The window was down four inches, the dog was leashed to the gear shift on the floor, with a small bowl of water. The owner was located in the medical clinic and it was suggested the other window be lowered to allow for air movement. The dog was physically checked on and found not to be in distress.
1:22 p.m. — Report of a theft of vehicle documents and sunglasses from a cube van parked at the Brick. The doors were locked. SUI
2:48 p.m. — Complaint of harassing phone and text messages received at a 53 Street residence. A 53-year-old Stettler male was ordered to stop the calls and a warning was issued at the request of the complainant.
2:50 p.m. — Report of a two-vehicle collision at the McDonald’s drive-thru. A 27-year-old female driving a Dodge Caravan followed a Dodge truck into the lineup. After both vehicles stopped, the truck suddenly backed up. The van received damage and the truck was reportedly not damaged. SUI
3:22 p.m. — Report of intoxicated persons in the Stettler hospital parking lot. The caller observed an older white truck with a blue pinstripe, facing 47 Avenue, with two males and one female standing outside with open liquor. In a previous incident, the same truck door dinged a vehicle. When the investigator arrived, all parties were gone and the truck wasn’t located.
5:16 p.m. — A 911 driving complaint reported a black-coloured GMC Sierra speeding and passing unsafely on Highway 11 to Highway 12. The truck passed two vehicles and a cattleliner and reportedly almost collided with the vehicles it had passed. The GMC wasn’t located.
7:02 p.m. — A 911 call reported a disturbance where a male had pushed a second male out of a wheelchair outside a residence on 46 Street. Investigators determined that a 21-year-old intoxicated male was pushing a 19-year-old male in a wheelchair and they fell over. The 19-year-old didn’t wish to speak with police about the matter.
7:18 p.m. — False alarm from Aspen Ford.
7:46 p.m. — Report of a lost purse that was left at Wal-Mart in a shopping cart. It was later reported that the 69-year-old woman had located her wallet.
8:32 p.m. — Investigators were called to Range Road 16-4, near Byemoor, and arrested a 63-year-old man who was disturbed and was uttering death threats. He taken into custody under provisions of the Mental Health Act and was escorted to the Stettler hospital.
Saturday, July 14
2:27 a.m. — False alarm from the Turtle Carwash.
8:21 a.m. — A 911 call reported loud music since 5:30 a.m. at a 46 Street house. Investigators found 19-, 21- and 23-year-old men at the home and a warning was issued at the request of the complainant.
10:53 a.m. — A 911 call came from a cellphone, but there was nothing heard by the 911 dispatcher. The location was narrowed down to Highway 601 and Range Road 21-1. The phone owner didn’t respond on callback.
1:52 p.m. — A complaint was received of a domestic assault at a 49 Avenue residence. SUI
8:42 p.m. — Report of an intoxicated 17-year-old male driving around Stettler in a tan-coloured Chevrolet Tahoe. The licence plate provided didn’t match the suspect vehicle. The SUV also wasn’t located.
10:47 p.m. — A 911 call reported a suspicious male at the Lions’ campground in Stettler, asking a six-year-old girl to go for a bike ride. Investigation revealed that it was a visitor to a campsite who was drinking. He had departed the area prior to police arriving. The caller from Strathmore was instructed to call should any other incidents arise.
11:09 p.m. — A 911 call reported a large group of dead geese on Highway 835 and the geese didn’t look as if they had been hit. The caller also reported that she was concerned as there was a strong smell of sour gas in a location of dead birds. The investigator had a dispatcher call out the Stettler Fire Department and while en route, they were called off by Big Valley Fire Department, which had tested the area and couldn’t detect any gas. On July 15, the theft of 1,500 litres of fuel was reported in the area of the dead birds. It wasn’t clear whether that was related to the dead geese.
11:52 p.m. — A 911 call of a suspicious person trying to break into a truck on 57 Street. An investigator attended and didn’t locate anyone in the area. An examination of the truck revealed no damage and no evidence of an entry attempt. Both doors were also locked.
Sunday, July 15
12:15 a.m. — Complaint of a loud party on Lake Road in Erskine. Investigators attended and spoke with the property representatives, who were co-operative and apologetic. The party was moved inside and there were no further complaints.
2:12 p.m. — Report of a suspicious black-coloured vehicle with tinted windows at a 46 Street residence. The caller observed an unusual transaction and the vehicle departed. This vehicle wasn’t located.
5:40 p.m. — A 911 call reported a missing 51-year-old father from a 66 Street residence. The male was absent since July 12, but returned home while the caller was on the phone.
6:49 p.m. — Report of the theft of fuel from a 1,600-litre tank at a rural farm on Highway 835. The complainant said that he had the diesel tank filled up on July 4, before he left for holidays. He received 1,500 litres of fuel for $1,266.08. When he came home, the hose had been cut and all of the fuel was drained. There was evidence examined at the scene. SUI
8:06 p.m. — Residential false alarm reported on 51 Avenue.
Monday, July 16
7:34 a.m. — Commercial false alarm at Stettler Dodge. The employees were at work and no one knew there was an alarm.
10:30 a.m. — The transportation foreman for the Town of Stettler visited the Stettler detachment to report two bollards damaged on the south east corner of 51 Avenue and 50 Street by the Town of Stettler office. The foreman stated the bollards were damaged by a vehicle, as there was a tire tread near the location.
10:58 a.m. — A single-vehicle collision with a deer was reported on Highway 12 and three kilometres west of Stettler.
11:05 p.m. — Report of a traffic hazard of a horse running on Highway 56 north of Stettler and half-mile north of Highway 601. An investigator attended the area, but didn’t locate the horse. The caller advised that she would call back if the horse returned.
Tuesday, July 17
5:23 a.m. — A 911 call reported the theft of a white-coloured 2006 Dodge Caravan that was parked behind the garage at a residence on 49 Avenue. The caller advised that the van had a full tank of gas and the keys were left inside. SUI