ARTICLES

On October 23,^, 2020 at approximately 2:30 AM the Medicine Hat Police attempted to stop a red SUV that was traveling at a high rate of speed on Parkview Drive. The driver did not comply and due to the speed at which the vehicle was traveling and in consideration of the risk to public safety the pursuit was discontinued. The same vehicle was located shortly thereafter, and a male was observed running from it. This male was apprehended and taken into custody without further incident.

The vehicle was later determined to be stolen with a stolen license plate as well.

Resulting from this investigation a 29-year-old Medicine Hat male has been charged with the following offences;

• Dangerous Driving,
• Flight from Police,
• Possession of Stolen Property,
• Trespass at Night,
• Resist Arrest,
• Breach of Probation

The male is currently being held in custody awaing a Judicial Interim Release Hearing and as such the name of the individual can not be released at this time.

Media Contact:

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

The Medicine Hat Police Service (MHPS), after consultation with the Alberta Crown Prosecution Service, has charged a MHPS police officer with one count of sexual assault in connection with an off-duty incident.

On October 11, 2020 the MHPS responded to a report of a sexual assault that had occurred at a local licensed establishment. Upon arrival at the scene it was determined that the accused was an off duty MHPS officer. As a result, the Alberta Justice and Solicitor General’s Director of Law Enforcement was notified as required by Section 46.1 of the Police Act. The Director of Law Enforcement directed that the MHPS continue with the investigation of the incident. Upon conclusion of the investigation, the file was forwarded to Edmonton for an independent review by a member of the Crown Prosecution Service who determined that the legal test for proceeding with the prosecution of the charge was met.

On October 23, 2020, Cst. Chance Franklin was charged with one count of sexual assault. Cst. Franklin is a 12-year member of the MHPS. He was immediately placed on administrative duties while the investigation was conducted and has since been relieved from duty without pay.

Upon conclusion of the matter in court, it is anticipated that the internal disciplinary process under the Police Act will follow. The disciplinary process determines whether any discipline, up to and including dismissal, is appropriate.

In order to ensure appropriate oversight, the Chair of the Medicine Hat Police Commission and the Director of Law Enforcement, have been provided with updates on the progress of this investigation on an ongoing basis.

“Police officers are held to a high standard of conduct as they have been sworn to serve and protect” says MHPS Chief Andy McGrogan. “The MHPS understands and respects the importance of transparency with and accountability to the members of our community, however as this matter is now before the courts the MHPS will be unable to provide further comment at this time.”

Media Contact:

Rita Sittler
Administrative Services Manager
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 403-529-8416

The Medicine Hat Police Service is pleased to introduce the members of the newly formed Downtown Patrol Unit (DPU). Sergeant Brian Bohrn will lead the team and will be supported by Constables Jason Van Mulligen and Lori Parasynchuk.

Throughout his career with the MHPS, Sgt. Bohrn has demonstrated excellent communication, conflict resolution and interpersonal skills. He has 16 years of policing experience with previous experience in the Patrol and Major Crimes Sections as well as the Traffic Unit.

Cst. Van Mulligen has 23 years of policing experience and has served in the Community Safety Section and Traffic Unit. Cst. VanMulligen has training in Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) and has strong communication skills as well as many valued community relationships.

Cst. Parasynchuk has 13 years of policing experience primarily the in Patrol Section. Cst. Parasynchuk has prioritized the downtown core in her patrol duties and as a result has formed many well established community connections.

The DPU was formed to address public behaviour concerns and increase the feeling of safety for residents and businesses in the downtown. The unit will patrol an area including; North Railway to 3rd Avenue SE, River Road SE to the SE Hill, with specific attention on maximizing public safety during peak business hours in the downtown core.

The primary objectives of the DPU will be met through a combination of presence, stewardship and enforcement activities including;

• Foot Patrols: Foot patrols are a well-established means of deterrence, detection, observation and community engagement. Foot patrols will be at the very core of policing activity downtown.

• Partnership Building: The downtown is home to many social service agencies and groups that have collaborative partnerships with police and/or have clients that frequently deal with law enforcement. Building relationships and sharing information will enhance operational efficiently as well as provide intervention services for individuals to access mental health / addictions resources required.

• Relationship Building: The downtown and North Railway areas are home to many longtime residents, tenants, business owners, transients and some homeless individuals. Building relationships will be key to detecting and deterring crime and disorder.

• Enforcement: Members of the DPU will enforce the Criminal Code of Canada, the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act as well as Provincial statutes and city of Medicine Hat bylaws.

• Licensed Premises Security and Safety: Officers must be proactive in optimizing the safety of patrons and staff.

The anticipated outcome of this unit will be a reduction of crime and anti-social behaviour, increased feeling of safety and enhanced community relationships with the Service. unit will be augmented by members of the MHPS School Resource Unit during the summer months.

Media Contact:

Sgt. Brian Bohrn
Downtown Patrol Unit
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 403-594-0638

UPDATE:

The TransCanada Highway has been reopened in both directions however driving conditions continue to be poor.  Please drive with caution and avoid unnecessary travel if possible.

Be advised that due to icy roads and white out conditions, the Trans Canada Highway between Redcliff and 1 Street SW are closed until the highways can be attended to by Volker Stevin.   Police are at the scenes of multiple collisions within the city limits.

On the evening of October 16^th at about 9:45 pm the Medicine Hat Police Service along with other emergency personnel responded to a motor vehicle collision on 1 Street SE at Division Avenue South.  The investigation revealed that a Chrysler Intrepid lost control while travelling eastbound on 1 Street SE, struck a parked truck on the right shoulder, overcorrected and rolled on its roof.  A pickup that was travelling westbound on 1 Street SE then struck the Intrepid as it rested on its roof.  The driver of the westbound truck sustained only minor injuries.  The estimated value of the damages is around $10,000.  Drugs and/or alcohol were not contributing factors to this collision. 

Investigators are now clear of collision scene at Division Avenue South and 1 Street SE.  The roadway is now open to the public.  Additional information to follow.

The Medicine Hat Police is currently at the scene of a motor vehicle collision at the intersection of Division Avenue South and 1 Street SE.  Please avoid this area as traffic is being re-directed.

Shortly after midnight on October 16, 2020, the Medicine Hat Police Service was notified that two horses had made their way into the Medicine Hat City limits and were wondering neighborhoods. Police observed the two horses grazing in several parks from the Hamptons to Southlands Blvd. Now catching stray horses could have posed problems for the average police service, however here in Medicine Hat we employ several cowboys and cowgirls who were up to the task. A call was placed to one of our off duty officers and he put aside his regular police equipment to attend the scene with a bucket of oats and a lasso. A short time later police were able to load both horses up into a trailer and safely transport them to the Medicine Hat Feeding Company, for safe keeping. Only.

Police have attached a photo of these two horses, so they can be turned over to their owner and they can return to the countryside.

More than $200,000 worth of stolen property and 63 firearms have been recovered after an ALERT investigation in southeast Alberta.

ALERT’s Southeast Alberta Property Crime Unit partnered with Taber Police Service, Taber RCMP, and Medicine Hat Police Service on the investigation, which culminated with search warrants being executed on September 10, 2020.

***MEDIA AVAILABILITY: Law enforcement representatives from ALERT, Taber Police, Medicine Hat Police, and RCMP will be available to speak to the media on Wednesday, October 7, 2020, at 11 a.m. at Medicine Hat Police Headquarters (884 2 Street SE).

“ALERT was successful in disrupting a group of individuals who were impacting rural communities with thefts and property crime offences,” said ALERT CEO Supt. Dwayne Lakusta. “We will continue to work with our policing partners and Crown prosecutors to ensure these individuals are held accountable.”

Three locations in Taber were searched and five people were arrested. The group is suspected of being involved in break-and-enters and vehicle thefts in Taber, Vauxhall, Lethbridge, Stirling, Vulcan, Bow Island, Seven Persons, Coaldale, and Barnwell.

ALERT further alleges that the suspects were involved in firearms trafficking. Sixty-three firearms were seized, along with approximately 60 disassembled firearms and parts, and thousands of rounds of ammunition.

Taber is located approximately 100 kilometers west of Medicine Hat.

Following the search warrants, investigators spent weeks cataloguing the stolen property and attempting to reunite items with their rightful owners. The stolen property included:

• seven vehicles;
• a utility trailer;
• license plates;
• lawnmowers;
• compressors;
• generators; and
• power tools.

Five suspects were arrested and face a total of 76 offences, including criminal charges such as trafficking stolen property, trafficking firearms, possession of proceeds of crime, and fraud:

• Jason Pizzati, a 46-year-old man from Taber;
• Cornelius Wolf, a 38-year-old man from Taber;
• Dustyn McCracken, a 20-year-old man from Taber;
• Greg Kosowan, a 72-year-old man from Taber; and
• Heinrich Wolf, a 35-year-old man from Taber.

ALERT’s Southeast Alberta Property Crime Unit launched at the beginning of April 2020, with its creation attributable to new funding provided by the Alberta Government. The joint forces initiative is aimed at tackling regional property crime.

Members of the public who suspect drug or gang activity in their community can call local police, or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Crime Stoppers is always anonymous. Medicine Hat residents can also submit tips anonymously through the Medicine Hat Police Service mobile app, which is free to download and available for both Apple and Android devices.

ALERT was established and is funded by the Alberta Government and is a compilation of the province’s most sophisticated law enforcement resources committed to tackling serious and organized crime.

Media inquiries may be directed to:
Mike Tucker
Communications Director
Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT)
780-509-3015

On October 5, 2020 at approximately 6:15 AM, members of the Medicine Hat Police Service (MHPS) and Medicine Hat Fire Service, responded to a structure fire in the 500 block of Allowance Avenue SE. The fire was contained to a detached garage and no one was injured.

As this time, police are treating the investigation as an arson and members of the Major Crime Section are working to identify the person(s) responsible for this offence.

Anyone with information that could assist the investigation is asked to contact the MHPS at 403-529-8481 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800 -222-8477 (TIPS). Tips may also be submitted (anonymously if preferred) thru the MHPS Mobile App, which is free and available to download for both Apple and Android devices by searching ‘Medicine Hat Police Service’ on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

Media Contact:

S/Sgt. Chad Holt
Major Crime Section
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 403-529-8421