On Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023, the Parkland RCMP Crime Reduction Unit (CRU) received information that an individual wanted on numerous Criminal Code warrants was in the community of Spruce Grove. With the assistance of Parkland RCMP Drug Section, the Crime Reduction Unit was successfully able to locate and apprehend a 22-year-old individual, of no fixed address.
Police obtained and executed a search warrant for the vehicle that the individual was found operating. The following items were seized:
- 53 grams of Methamphetamine;
- 3.5 grams of Fentanyl;
- 43 individual banking, membership and student cards where names cannot be determined;
- 74 individual bank card, credit cards, Alberta Health Care cards, driver's licences and benefits cards;
- Approximately 50 sets of keys, including vehicle, home and mailbox keys of unknown origin;
- Personal banking records;
- Multiple books of blank personal cheque books as well as individual blank cheques and WCB cheques;
- A large quantity of business records with client information;
- Counterfeit American currency;
- A variety of ammunition;
- A prohibited electrical stun baton with handcuffs, masks and break and enter tools;
- Gate and alarm codes for several commercial businesses;
- Personal Canadian income tax returns;
- An electronic bank card / credit card reader;
- Blank Alberta Health Care cards and additional evidence of credit card fraud.
In addition to his original warrants, the individual is charged with the following offences as a result of the search warrant:
- Possession for the purposes of trafficking (Methamphetamine);
- Possession of property obtained by crime under $5000;
- Drive while prohibited;
- Failing to comply with a Release Order condition x 4;
- Failing to comply with a Probation Order x 2.
Investigation is ongoing into the stolen and/or fraudulent personal items and expected to take some time before further charges can be laid. There are dozens of related theft investigations and police will be attempting to contact victims in attempt to return personal items. Police remind everyone to keep government issued documents (birth certificates and SIN cards) stored in a safe place to mitigate the risk of identity theft.
The individual has been remanded into custody. With a court appearance set for Feb. 15, 2023, at Stony Plain provincial court.