ARTICLES

Two Medicine Hat residents are facing 31 total charges following a short-term ALERT investigation into drug trafficking.

On May 9, 2023 ALERT Medicine Hat’s organized crime unit, with the assistance of Medicine Hat Police Service, executed a search warrant on an apartment suite in the Crescent Heights neighbourhood and seized the following items:

• 619 grams of methamphetamine;

• 42 grams of fentanyl;

• 10 grams of cocaine;

• 140 pills of oxycodone;

• $960 in cash.

The drugs have an estimated street value of nearly $50,000.

ALERT also seized a sawed-off shotgun, two replica firearms, ammunition, and a conducted energy weapon which resembled a flashlight.

The firearm will be submitted for further forensic analysis, ballistics testing and serial number restoration. ALERT is conducting a follow-up investigation to determine how the firearm was acquired as the suspect is currently bound by a lifetime firearms prohibition.

“This is a repeat offender and was out on bail when we began our investigation. He is bound by a lifetime firearm prohibition, and his involvement in the drug trade puts the community at risk,” said Staff Sgt. Ryan Thorburn, ALERT.

Justin Crawford, 40 years old, and Melissa Andrews, 40 years old, of Medicine Hat are facing various drug related and firearm offences. The pair remain in custody.

Members of the public who suspect drug or gang activity can report to the Medicine Hat Police Service at 403-529-8481 or submit a tip annoymously throught the MHPS mobile app or website.

Media Contact:

S/Sgt Ryan Thorburn
Organized Crime Section
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 403-529-8425

On the evening of May 12, 2023, at about 10:55 p.m., the Medicine Hat Police Service attended to a serious assault in the rear parking lot of the Medicine Hat Lodge located at 1051 Ross Glen Drive SE.  The investigation revealed that two male suspects immediately fled the area on foot towards Ross Glen Drive SE and Redwood Court SE.  Specific to this time frame, police are asking members of the public with home security cameras who reside in the neighbourhood to check their systems for potential footage of these suspects entering or leaving thearea.  Suspect #1 was wearing dark shorts and a hoodie.  Suspect #2 was wearing dark pants with a white logo on the front left leg and a dark hoodie.  

Additionally, anyone who may have witnessed this incident or saw anyone running from the vicinity is encouraged to contact police.

The Medicine Hat Police Service’s Criminal Investigation Section is investigating this matter. If you can provide any details of this incident, please call 403-529-8481 or contact Cst. Adam Johnston at adajoh@mhps.ca.

A Medicine Hat man has been charged in connection to a high-risk incident that occurred in the city.

During the early evening of May 2, 2023, the Medicine Hat Police Service (MHPS) became aware of the whereabouts of a male who was wanted by police for various criminal code offences.

Officers located the man in a home in the 300 block of 11 Street SW and based on information obtained it was believed there was a potential risk of access to a weapon. After several failed attempts to have the male exit the home on his own, the MHPS Tactical Response Team (TACT) along with the Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT) were deployed and successful in apprehending the male without incident or injury to anyone involved.

Resulting from this investigation, a 32-year-old Medicine Hat man was charged with the following;

• Assault with a Weapon
• Possess Weapon Dangerous to the Public x 2
• Point Firearm
• Unlawful Possession of a Firearm
• Utter Threats
• Failing to comply with Undertaking
• Failing to comply with a Release Order x 5

The investigation in ongoing and the man’s name will be withheld pending a Judicial Interim Release hearing, however the MHPS can confirm the male involved in this investigation is not the same individual who was the subject of a MHPS media release earlier this week.

Media Contact:

S/Sgt. Jason Graham
Criminal Investigation Section
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 403-529-8421

A Medicine Hat man has been charged in connection to two suspicious devices found in Medicine Hat over the past six months.

On November 23, 2022, the Medicine Hat Police Service (MHPS) responded to a report of a suspicious device located around Terrace Drive and 11 Avenue NE. The device was identified as a homemade pipe bomb and was safely disposed of by members of the MHPS Explosives Disposal Unit (EDU).

On April 1, 2023, MHPS once again responded to a report of second device found around Cactus Street SW. Once again, the device identified as a homemade pipe bomb, was safely disposed of by members of the MHPS EDU.

The Criminal Investigation Section of the MHPS conducted a thorough and comprehensive investigation, which resulted in a residential search warrant being executed at a home in the 300 block of 11 Street SW. As a result of this investigation and subsequent search, a 40-year-old Medicine Hat male, identified as James Jerard McNulty was arrested and charged in connection to these two events. McNulty was charged with the following;

• Make or Possess Explosive Substance x 2
• Possession of a Controlled Substance
• Failing to Comply with a Release Order x 4

McNulty was held for a Judicial Interim Release hearing on April 28, 2023, where he was subsequently released and scheduled to appear in Medicine Hat Provincial Court on May 25, 2023.

Media Contact:

S/Sgt. Jason Graham
Criminal Investigation Section
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 403-529-8421

On April 27th, 2023, the Medicine Hat Police Service (MHPS) was notified of a potential fraud in-progress. The victim had been flagged down by two individuals who indicated that they were in distress and needed money to return to Ontario. The accused(s) sold the victim worthless gold in exchange for an undisclosed amount of money.

As part of the fraud, they advised that they wanted another large amount of money and were following the victim to a bank to obtain the remainder of the cash. The victim contacted police when he realized that he was being scammed. The offence is consistent with fraudulent activities that have been occurring across the country.

As a result of this investigation two males were arrested and charged with fraud. A 35-year-old male and a 45-year-old male are held in custody, awaiting the results of a Judicial Interim Release Hearing. The identity of the two males will not be released as the matters are still before the initial stages of court proceedings.

The MHPS is once again reminding residents to be aware of these fake gold/jewellery scams that can occur periodically in our community as fraudsters travel thru the area. While the scam can take many forms, most often victims are approached by persons who advise the that they are selling high value items, often gold or silver jewelry, that is supposedly valued tens of thousands of dollars and for a substantially reduced amount.

The victims of the fraud later learn that the items are worthless, but only after having lost a substantial amount of money. Sometimes during the conversation, while the victims are distracted, they are also pick-pocketed or targeted by the scam artists for theft from vehicles.

The most practical advice when presented with an opportunity is, that if something seems too good to be true, then it probably is.

Anyone with information on similar activities are asked to report it by calling the non-emergency line 403-529-8481 or by submitting a tip via the MHPS website (mhps.ca) or mobile app. The MHPS app is free to download and available for both Apple and Android devices.

Media Contact:

S/Sgt Kelsey Fraser
Operational Services Division
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 403-529-8461

On April 19, 2023, at about 10:05 AM, emergency services responded to a single vehicle collision that occurred in the area of Box Springs Road NW and eastbound Trans Canada Highway. A 66-year-old male driver suffered a medical event that caused the vehicle he was driving to leave the road and strike a lamp standard. The male was transported to the hospital with undetermined injuries. Damage is estimated at $25,000.

Media Contact:

Patrol S/Sgt
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 403-529-8461

A Medicine Hat man is in custody charged with several firearms and stolen property related offences after a weapon was found in his possession during an arrest.

On April 18, 2023, members of the Medicine Hat Police Service Criminal Investigation Section located a man who had outstanding warrants for his arrest. While officers were attempting to arrest the man he reportedly reached into a nearby bag where officers later located a loaded sawed off 20-gauge shotgun along with several items of stolen property. Upon a further search, additional ammunition was located on the male.

As a result of this incident, Tyler Poczik, age 36 years, of Medicine Hat, AB was charged with the following:

• Unlawful possession of a restricted firearm,
• Possession of a prohibited / restricted firearm,
• Unsafe storage of a firearm,
• Breach of a firearms / ammunition prohibition order x 2,
• Breach of release order,
• Unlawful possession of identity documents,
• Possession of stolen property under $5000,
• Possession of weapon dangerous to the public peace,
• Fraudulently possess credit card data

Poczik was held for a Judicial Interim Release hearing where it was determined that he will be held in custody until his next court appearance on April 27, 2023.

Media Contact:

S/Sgt. Jason Graham
Criminal Investigation Section
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 403-529-8421

Jason Higdon, who was the subject of a missing person report, has been found and is safe. The Medicine Hat Police thank the public for their attention with this matter.

On January 13, 2024, the Medicine Hat Police Service (MHPS) will be celebrating 125 years as a police service and to celebrate this milestone several events are being planned.

One initiative suggested by the planning committee to celebrate our rich history as a police service, is the creation of a limited 125^th anniversary edition of the MHPS shoulder flash patch. While the patch would not be worn on active-duty uniforms, it may be worn for special occasions and will shared as a collector’s item during special events throughout the year.

To help with the design of the 125^th anniversary flash, the MHPS is seeking submissions from the community. Attached are photos of our current shoulder flash and previous versions that are on display in the MHPS Lobby. In addition, historic details about the MHPS can be found on the MHPS website as well as at the Esplanade archives.

Anyone interested in submitting a design can do so my email mhps@mhps.ca no later than May 28th, 2023, at 4:00 p.m.

The successful design will be chosen by the MHPS Executive Team and Anniversary Planning Committee, and the designer will receive the first rendition of the flash produced, as well as public acknowledgement and bragging rights of the achievement.

On Saturday, April 1, 2023, at around 1:00 pm members of the Medicine Hat Police Service responded to a report of a suspicious device located in the area of Cactus Street SW. The item was safely removed with support from the MHPS Explosives Disposal Unit. There were no injuries as a result of this incident and the matter is now being investigated by the Criminal Investigation Section. Anybody with any information that can assist in this investigation is asked to contact the MHPS at 403-529-8481.

Media Contact:

S/Sgt Jason Graham
Criminal Investigation Section
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 403-529-8421