SEATBELTS
On March 18, a special seatbelt compliance event was held at the Wm. E. Hay Composite High School during the lunch break. The event, initiated by the Stettler Traffic Safety Committee, was conducted with the participation of the Clearview Public School’s Family Wellness Worker, members of the Traffic Safety Committee, the Gov’t of Alberta Office of Traffic Safety, the Alberta Health Injury PreventionSpecialist from Stettler, and the Stettler RCMP Detachment.
What transpired in the parking lot was the checking of vehicle occupants by persons from the above organizations together with many high school students who are part of SADD, (Students Against Drunk Driving). 139 students went through the check point and only four were not using their seatbelts. The 135 students who were buckled up received the opportunity to enter a draw for multiple Tim Hortons gift cards.
Under the direction of the Clearview Public School’s Family Wellness Worker, students reached out to inform other students about the benefits of seatbelt compliance using a Facebook message campaign. They also hosted a lunch hour seatbelt information session which was attended by 46 students.
ASSAULT
On March 18, at about 5:40 p.m. police were called to an assault at a residence in the 5900 block of 52 Avenue in Stettler where they learned that bear spray (pepper spray) had been used against occupants of the home. A short time later, 37-year- old Lyle Gordon Hampton, of Rumsey, AB turned himself in. He has been charged with eleven offences including assault with a weapon, uttering death threats, criminal harassment, and break-and-enter a dwelling. Mr. Hampton was remanded in custody and will next appear in Red Deer Provincial Court on March 25 for a bail hearing and plea.
On March 20, at around 12:30 p.m. police arrested a 62-year-old Stettler male after being called to a disturbance in the Emmerson Acres area of Stettler. The man now faces a charge of uttering death threats due to comments made to the arresting officer. He was remanded in custody to appear in Stettler Provincial Court on March 25 for a bail hearing and plea.
IMPAIRED DRIVING
Police stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation in the 5900 block of 50 Avenue in Stettler on March 17, at about 11:15 p.m. A 21-year-old male Stettler resident was arrested for impaired driving and will enter a plea to such a charge in Stettler Provincial Court on March 25.
Police intercepted an impaired driver near the intersection of Highway 12 and Highway 56 in Stettler around 11:30 a.m on March 19 after several concerned motorists reported many incidents of dangerous driving. A 52-year-old female resident of Stettler was arrested. The investigation continues.
On March 22, at about 2:30 a.m. police encountered a vehicle in Stettler that matched the description of a vehicle reported to police earlier as a suspected impaired driver. Arrested for impaired driving was a 28-year-old male from Innisfail. He was charged accordingly and will appear in Stettler Provincial Court on March 25 to enter a plea.
THEFTS
On March 22, numerous sheds and garages located in east Stettler were reported broken into overnight and property was stolen including tools, saws, generators, air compressors, camping equipment, nail guns, and snow blowers. Areas targeted by thieves included the 4900 block of 52 Street, 5000 block of 57 Street, 4800 block of 46 Street, 4800 block of 49 Street and 4900 block of 47 Street. Later in the morning an observant resident of the county reported finding property abandoned along a range road about six miles NWbout of Stettler. Police recovered a substantial amount of the missing items. Items not recovered include a ‘cut-off saw’, Dewalt 10: mitre saw, Paslode impulse nail gun, Paslode finish nailer, Dewalt cordless drill kit, and Dewalt skill saw.
Also overnight on March 22, a 1999 Gulf Stream holiday trailer was stolen from a storage compound in the northwest area of the County of Stettler, north of Erskine. A locked gate was forced open and the culprits towed the trailer away.
On March 17, a rancher reported the theft of a Hereford calf from his pasture. The theft occurred in the northeast area of the County of Stettler.
On March 15. a 14-year- old youth was charged with possessing stolen property after a PSP video game was stolen from a residence in Stettler. The youth was remanded in custody for a March 19 bail hearing in Red Deer Provincial Youth Court. At that hearing he was further remanded in custody to appear in Stettler Provincial Youth Court on March 25 for another bail hearing and plea.
If you have information to assist police in solving these or any crimes, call CRIMESTOPPERS at 1-800--222-TIPS or send an email to www.tipsubmit.com. Why not be a good neighbour by watching their property for suspicious behaviour when you know they are away or in bed.