ARTICLES

On March 8, 2022, International Women’s Day, the Medicine Hat Police Service (MHPS) pledged to celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of individuals in the community (Medicine Hat & surrounding area) who lead, inspire, and motivate women and work to break the bias towards advancing gender equity. Each month the MHPS, in partnership with the Medicine Hat Police Association, selects a local individual(s) to highlight with the “Be The Change” award, and celebrate the achievements of these individuals who are catalysts for change in our community.

For the month of January, Leah Fischer was chosen as the recipient. Leah is a Registered Provisional Psychologist serving in Alberta. For the last 25 years, she has dedicated her time to helping individuals and families, most notably mothers and mothers-to-be, navigate difficult circumstances and issues to uncover their best life.

After completing her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Sociology, Leah spent eight years facilitating rehabilitation with young offenders in Regina, SK. Following that, she began an 18-year career with a non-profit agency providing early intervention to young families. There she supported prenatal and postnatal knowledge attainment in attachment, child development, healthy families and eventually became the lead for the home-visitation team.

In 2016, Leah began her Masters in Counselling Psychology and focused her research on pre and post natal anxiety and depression. Today she remains passionate about women’s issues and provides support to women for miscarriages and infant loss.

Leah believes that ‘lived experience gives you passion and ability’ and draws from her own personal experience to support others. When raising her babies, Leah was living away from her extended family and found herself struggling to navigate motherhood without a support system. She recalls “feeling like she needed more”, an experience which fueled her passion to ensure that other new mothers were never left to feel alone.

Leah notes that despite research which confirms the significant challenges women face mental and physically as they enter motherhood, support systems are not as readily available to address these concerns as is commonplace for other illnesses such as heart disease. She also acknowledges the expectations often placed on woman to ‘bounce back’ after giving birth and exude a ‘Superwoman persona’ as being simply unrealistic. Women experiencing these changes need to know, ‘It is ok to not feel ok’ and when and where to seek out help.

Leah’s has a vision of creating a Women’s Institute of Health that would focus on assisting women in every stage of life. Doing so she feels would not only strengthen individual women, but also their families, their workforce and society as a whole. In the interim, Leah continues to offer her time to others through coaching, consultation, psychoeducation and psychotherapy.

Thank you Leah, for your passion and efforts to provide the utmost compassion, care and support to women in need throughout Medicine Hat and all of Alberta. We look forward to the day that your future visions come to fruition.

Upon receiving the award Leah shared the following message:

Thank you, Carissa and the MHPS. I am honored to represent women and be recognized among those that choose to make a difference. In the words of Maya Angelou, “I am grateful to be a woman. I must have done something great in another life.”

I have come from a long line of strong women that have demonstrated to me that adversity does not mean helplessness. Their struggles, and min, have shown me the depths of power of the female spirit. Women such as Joan of Arc, Rosa Parks, Maya Angelou, Tina Turner, Malala Yousafzai or an unknown Grace O’Malley that is said to have fought off an attack from Turkish pirates the day after giving birth, have shown us all examples that we can be challenged and persevere.

At the time of our struggles, it may seem that we are alone but that is something we must not accept as truth. Our experiences are common to many other women. When we share our stories, we all gain experience, and we find our strength together. By using all of our adversities and being the change, you wish to see in the world, women can change the experiences of those that come after us. I hope to do that with my work in our community.

A Medicine Hat man has been charged with kidnapping a woman who responded to a casual housekeeping employment opportunity posted on social media.

On January 14th, 2023, members of the Medicine Hat Police Service (MHPS) responded to a call from a woman who reported that she had been confined to a vehicle and driven into a secluded area against her will. The woman was able to exit the vehicle she was travelling in with the accused as it slowed, on Saamis Drive (old Redcliff Highway) near 23rd Street NW, before calling 9-1-1. Upon receiving the call, officers immediately responded and located her walking in the same area. Based on the information provided by the woman a suspect vehicle and the male accused were located a short time later.

The investigation revealed that the woman had arranged to be picked up by the accused in Medicine Hat after responding to a request for house cleaning services posted by the accused on social media. The man who lives in Medicine Hat, AB, and the complainant are not believed to have been known to one another before this incident.

In consultation with the Crown Prosecutors Office, the MHPS has charged Lester Landry, age 65 years, with one count of kidnapping. Landry was released from custody with a condition to not contact the victim and is scheduled to appear in Provincial Court on February 28, 2023.

Media Contact:

Inspector Joe West
Operational Services Division
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 403-529-8414

On January 7, 2023, members of the Medicine Hat Police Service responded to a weapons complaint at a motel located in the southwest area of the city.

Information received indicated that a domestic related altercation had occurred involving a firearm. After ensuring the female victim was safely removed from the area officers set up containment and with the assistance of MHPS negotiators, the male suspect was safely apprehended.

The MHPS Criminal Investigation Section completed further investigation and a search of the room resulted in a rifle, ammunition and replica firearm being located.

As a result of the investigation, Brian Christopher Aske, 44-year-old Medicine Hat male, has been charged with the following offences;

• Possession of a weapon dangerous to the public,
• Unauthorized possession of a firearm,
• Utter Threats,
• Assault,
• Alter/deface/remove a firearm serial number,
• Breach of a firearm prohibition,
• Breach of an ammunition prohibition,
• Careless storage of a firearm,
• Knowingly possess a firearm without a licence,
• Fail to comply with a release order,
• Fail to comply with an undertaking x 2

Aske was held for a judicial interim release hearing and held in custody until his next court appearance in Medicine Hat Provincial Court on January 10, 2023.

Media Contact:

Staff Sergeant Jason Graham
Criminal Investigation Section
Ph: 403-529-8421

On January 5th at 1:00 P.M. the MHPS will be escorting an overdimensional load from the West Redcliff City limits to the 900 Block of 23rd St SE, Medicine Hat.  There will be Traffic delays westbound on Highway 1 and in the SW industrial area. 

On January 4th at 0900 the Police Service will be escorting an over dimensional load from the West Redcliff limits to the East City of Medicine Hat limits.  There will be traffic delays on Highway #1 eastbound and in the light industrial area

Emergency crews have cleared from the MVC scene at 1st Street SE and Division Ave and traffic flow has been restored. The MVC is currently under investigation. Thanks to motorists and pedestrians in the area for their patience and understanding while emergency crews work. 

On December 29^th, 2022 at approximately 9:00 p.m. the Medicine Hat Police Service responded to a hold-up alarm in the 0 hundred block of 7^th St SE, Medicine Hat. A male entered the business brandishing a weapon and was demanding money. The male subject left the establishment after a brief interaction with staff members, unsuccessful in his attempts to obtain money.

Patrols members set up containment in the area, and with the use of a MHPS drone, were able to track the heat signature of the subject and allow officers to safely arrest the subject. The entire apprehension and arrest was recorded on video with the use of the drone.

A 31-year-old male of no fixed address is currently in Police Custody await a Judicial Interim Release (JIR) Bail hearing. The 31-year old male is to be charged with attempted robbery with an offensive weapon and once count of breach of probation. The identity of the male cannot be released until the conclusion of the JIR bail hearing.

Media Contact:

S/Sgt. Rod Thompson
Patrol Section
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 403-529-8461

The recent rain has created hazardous road conditions within the City of Medicine Hat. The Medicine Hat Police Service does not recommend travel within the city of Medicine Hat, until there has been some opportunity to sand the roads.

If you are traveling outside of the city, please check road condition using 511 Alberta https://511.alberta.ca/ prior to leaving.

If you see police at crash scenes, please slow down and obey directions of the officers on scene directing traffic. We have already experienced motorists crashing into parked police cars.

UPDATE

The City of Medicine Hat Municipal Works is out trying to sand key locations. However, they are also experiencing challenges in navigating hills. Please be patient with emergency crews and stay off the roads until further notice. 

A 54-year-old man is in custody and a woman sustained minor injuries following an altercation in a Medicine Hat home.

On December 19^th at about 6:30 AM members of the Medicine Hat Police Service responded to a residence on Southlands Boulevard SE after receiving a report that a woman was injured during an altercation with her former partner that involved a weapon.

The man initially threatened officers with a weapon when they responded to the home but after several hours of negotiation and with the assistance of the MHPS Tactical Team, he was safely taken in custody without injury.

Resulting from this investigation the man has been charged with the following offences.

• Assault with a weapon x 2
• Utter Threats x 3
• Possession of a weapon dangerous to the public
• Breach of Probation x 2

The man is currently held in custody awaiting a judicial interim release hearing and therefore his name can not be released at this time.

The woman did not require medical treatment for her physical injuries and will receive support from the Medicine Hat Victims Assistance Unit.

Media Contact:

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

December 19, 2022 – Request to identify

The Medicine Hat Police Service are requesting public assistance to identify two males involved in a theft of credit card that occurred on November 9, 2022.

At approximately 6:00 PM two unknown males approached a woman in a parked vehicle at a gas station on the Trans Canada Highway in Medicine Hat, AB. One of the men knocked on the driver’s window to get the woman’s attention and advised her she had a problem with her car tire. When she got out to check, it was believed that the second male, who had positioned himself near the passenger’s side of the vehicle, entered the vehicle and removed the woman’s wallet.

The woman’s credit card was used at a local department store 20 minutes later. Surveillance images of the suspects are attached. Anyone with information that can assist this investigation is asked to contact the MHPS at 403-529-8481.

Media Contact:

Patrol S/Sgt
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 403-529-8481