Below is a summary of most calls for Stettler RCMP service for the week of Tuesday, Jan. 15, to Sunday, Jan. 20. Calls with the SUI designation 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, Jan. 15
2:46 a.m. — Commercial false alarm at the Lube Experts on 44 Avenue.
3:29 p.m. — An investigator conducting a patrol on Highway 56, south of 44 Avenue, observed two males reloading three pieces of pipe onto a semi-trailer. The trailer had a heavy load of long pipe and the wooden pallet was observed to be hanging off of the passenger side of the trailer. The 55-year-old driver from Paynton, Sask., reported that a drilling company loaded the pipe and he thought it was secure. He was issued a violation ticket for an unsecured load.
7:55 p.m. — A phone call was received from a 40-year-old man, who was upset that he had lost his rent money. The man refused to provide his address, but he advised that he hadn’t slept in three days. After an investigator spoke with the caller, it was identified that the caller was previously on medication for depression but had stopped taking it, as “he could not feel anything.” The man was instructed to see a doctor about his problems. He was picked up and transported to the Stettler hospital.
9:01 p.m. — A 44-year-old man from Spruce Park Crescent advised that he was looking up automotive error codes on his computer and it locked up. A message was received that the police had locked his computer and that he had to get a $100 cash card from Esso, Canadian Tire, Canada Post, etc. and send someone money. He was told his computer downloaded a virus and that he should get it serviced by a technician.
9:24 p.m. — An 18-year-old female from rural Stettler said her Dodge Dakota truck was stolen from her yard between midnight and 4 a.m. The female reported her truck keys were in her bedroom, there was no entry into the residence and her vehicle was left unlocked. The truck was returned to the exact location where the owner had parked it, with half a tank of fuel. The female advised that the same thing had happened to her girlfriend. There was no evidence in either case to prove that the thefts had occurred.
Wednesday, Jan. 16
9:09 a.m. — Complaint of a red Dodge single-cab truck speeding on 60 Street and splashing a five-year-old boy with slush. The boy was standing in front of his house and the caller advised that the truck driver made a deliberate attempt to splash the young boy during the warm weather. No licence plate was obtained, but a suspect was identified.
12:33 p.m. — A 42-year-old man reported that he had received a threat from an unknown person, instructing him to stay away from his ex-wife. The call was received at a 49 Street apartment and it was traced back to an unknown person.
3 p.m. — Report of a 55-year-old man from 52 Avenue intoxicated at the probation office. The man then drove to a downtown business, where he was arrested for failing to comply with conditions of his probation order, not to consume alcohol. He was also charged with transporting liquor in an open container, issued a vehicle-equipment violation ticket and a three-day licence suspension, and his pickup truck was seized for a mandatory three days. The accused was released and handed a Feb. 28 court date.
4:03 p.m. — A school bus driver reported a two-toned grey SUV failed to stop for a school bus, with the flashing lights activated. The incident occurred on Highway 12, four kilometres east of Stettler. The bus driver described the SUV driver as a middle-aged man, talking on his cellphone with a female passenger. A licence plate was recorded, but it didn’t match the suspect vehicle.
10:48 p.m. — Complaint from a 19-year-old female on 43 Street that a tall, skinny male, wearing a ball cap, was carrying a gun in his coat. He was last seen walking on Highway 12, near the Town Pump, and appeared to be intoxicated. Extensive patrols were made throughout the area and no one was located.
Thursday, Jan. 17
9:30 a.m. — A 57-year-old man reported that his Alberta Infrastructure truck, a Ford F-150, sustained damage in a hit-and-run collision in the Smitty’s parking lot at 7:10 a.m. The man said he parked the truck facing south toward the business and a smaller white pickup was parked northward. When the white pickup was backing up, it struck the complainant’s truck and fled the scene. A licence-plate number wasn’t obtained.
Friday, Jan. 18
9:34 a.m. — Stettler Middle School advised that a 13-year-old boy didn’t show up for school. The principal reported that the parents of the boy requested a call to the police to locate him. An investigation determined that the youth left his house, but never showed up for school. At 10:04 a.m., the mother advised her boy was at home and he wanted to go back to school. The 13-year-old was transported to school by the investigator and was spoken to about his actions and how he was treating his parents. The boy advised that he would stay at school for the remainder of the day.
12:25 p.m. — A 911 open-line call came from the Canalta Hotel. An investigator spoke with staff at the hotel and it was determined that someone dialed 9 to get out of their room and then hit 11, dialing 911 by accident.
12:33 p.m. — Report of a vehicle fire in the parking lot behind the Outreach School on 51 Street. While extinguishing the fire, firefighters came across drug paraphernalia items. An investigator attended the location and noted two smoke pipes and a marijuana grinder in the console area. The cause of the fire was determined to be a cigarette or a marijuana pipe. The 17-year-old female owner from 50 Avenue was found to have a package of cigarettes and was issued a violation ticket for possessing tobacco while under age 18.
3:45 p.m. — Complaint of an intoxicated, combative and suicidal patient in an ambulance between Halkirk and Stettler, and EMS requesting police assistance. The ambulance was located on Highway 56 in front of A&W, where an investigator was able to gain access. A 47-year-old man from 51 Avenue in Castor was placed was under arrest and handcuffed. At the time, he uttered threats to kill the officer and later a hospital nurse. While en route to Stettler, he assaulted two of the EMS staff, and the arresting officer, by trying to choke them. At the hospital, the attending doctor advised that the drunk and drugged male wasn’t medically fit to go to police cells, so hospital security was called in. On Saturday morning, the male was released from the hospital and arrested. He was transported to the Red Deer Remand Centre, as he had an outstanding arrest warrant. He’s also scheduled to appear in Stettler court on Feb. 14.
12:40 p.m. — Complaint from a 43-year-old woman from rural Gadsby, on Township Road 37-2, reporting a suspicious dark-blue truck, with a white sign on the side, being driven in the area. The caller observed the same truck on two occasions, but she wasn’t able to obtain a licence plate. An investigator patrolled the area, with negative results.
1:45 p.m. — A 42-year-old man, residing at a 49 Street apartment, was arrested on outstanding warrants from Red Deer. He was released on a $500 no-cash bail.
8:11 p.m. — A 32-year-old man from 47 Avenue reported that a black Ford F-150 truck was eastbound on Highway 12 and had been swerving back and forth across the width of the entire highway. The suspect vehicle pulled over at the highways 12 and 11 junction. The caller reported an Alberta licence-plate number, but the plate wasn’t a match. Patrols were made and the truck wasn’t located.
9:28 p.m. — A 21-yearold man from Big Valley and a 17-year-old male from Emmerson Acres were found with eight grams of marijuana in a vehicle. The 21-year-old owner of the automobile was charged with possession of a controlled substance and given a Feb. 28 court date.
Saturday, Jan. 19
9:10 a.m. — Request to check the well-being of a three-year-old child at a 62 Street apartment. Investigators attended to find the boy uninjured and living inside a well-kept residence. The complaint was passed on to Family and Child Services.
11:49 a.m. — Commercial alarm at Tyco on 51 Street. An investigator attended and found the front door to be unlocked. The building was searched and nothing out of the ordinary was located. It was determined that a maintenance worker left the door open.
10:49 p.m. — During a routine patrol, an investigator noted a vehicle that was stuck on the median at the intersection of Highway 56 and Highway 12. A traffic stop was conducted and the 29-year-old female driver from Spruce Close showed signs of drug impairment. The investigator noted the smell of marijuana from inside the automobile and the driver was detained. A search of the car produced a small amount of marijuana inside the centre console. The driver was charged with possession of a controlled substance and faces a February court date. She was also issued a 24-hour driving suspension.
Sunday, Jan. 20
7:16 a.m. — Residential false alarm on 57 Street.
1:14 p.m. — Complaint of a 40- to 50-yearold male, driving a green Oldsmobile, and smoking marijuana outside a 51 Avenue residence. The vehicle was located in the Wal-Mart parking lot and an investigator waited on the scene until the driver returned. When the 54-year-old male driver from Stettler returned, the investigator noted an odor of marijuana on the male, with glassy eyes and a staggered walk. The driver traced the marijuana odor to the previous day and he denied smoking Sunday. He also advised that he normally walks that way. A search of the vehicle didn’t turn up any evidence of drug use and there wasn’t enough evidence for the investigator to lay a charge of impaired driving, or issue a 24-hour driving suspension. Due to the possibility of the driver having marijuana in his body, he agreed to have police drive him home and leave his vehicle at the Wal-Mart parking lot. The driver was reminded that smoking marijuana continues to be illegal.
9:07 p.m. — Request for police assistance regarding a domestic issue. The complainant reported that her 32-year-old husband was texting and she was afraid for her safety. Because there was no evidence of violence and no threats, no further investigation was conducted. The issue continues to be monitored.