An early morning track check by an employee of Alberta Prairie Railways may have averted a disaster when the employee found a stolen, vandalized and abandoned truck left on the train tracks near Highway 56 on Aug. 12.
Stettler RCMP were called to the site shortly before 8 a.m. The vehicle, stolen from Tarpon Energy Services, was a white 2008 GMC pick-up truck that had been stolen sometime overnight.
The person or persons who stole the truck "vandalized it and left it on the tracks," Stettler RCMP detachment commander Cpl. Cameron Russell said.
"We're just lucky it was seen before a train came through," he said.
After the cursory investigation the truck was removed from the tracks, and investigation continues, Russell said. The police are speaking to witnesses and several persons of interest, but ask anyone who may have seen anything come forward with the information.
Stolen vehicle stop leads to big drug bustAround 1 p.m. at Aug. 12, an RCMP constable pulled over an old grey 1982 GMC pickup truck at the corner of Highway 12 and 50 Street. After investigation, it was discovered the truck driven by a 27-year-old woman was stolen, the driver only had a learner's permit, and that there was no insurance (by way of the vehicle being stolen).
After arresting the woman on the charge of possession of stolen property, the vehicle was searched by the constable, who found a "considerable amount" of drugs and drug paraphernalia, primarily MDMA, or ecstasy, Russell said.
Also amongst the ecstasy were quantities of heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine, he noted. An undisclosed amount of cash was also seized along with the drugs, paraphernalia and vehicle.
The driver faces a charge each of possession of stolen property under $5,000, possession of narcotics with the purpose of trafficking, driving a motor vehicle without insurance, and driving a motor vehicle without a licence.
Stolen firearm recovered in Red DeerShortly before 11 a.m. on Aug. 10, Red Deer RCMP and police dog services arrested a 28-year-old Red Deer man who was unlawfully at large and was wanted on several warrants for breach of probation.
According to Const. Derek Turner of the Red Deer RCMP, the suspect submitted to police without incident.
During the arrest, a long barrel bolt-action rifle was found in the possession of the accused, a weapon later found to have been stolen from a Stettler residence during a break-in on Aug. 2.
The accused is charged with one count of each of breach of probation order, possession of stolen property under $5,000, unlawful possession of a firearm, and careless use and storage of a firearm.
RCMP ask anyone with information regarding these or any crimes to contact the Stettler RCMP at 403-742-3382. If you wish to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), or report it online at www.tipsubmit.com.