ARTICLES

Emergency Crews are on scene at a structure fire in the 200 Block of 6 St SE., Medicine Hat.  Please avoid the area and allow the police and fire services room to work.  Any media inquiries are directed to the Medicine Hat Fire Service.

During the evening of July 22, 2020 members of the Medicine Hat Police Service (MHPS), working in partnership with the Winnipeg Police Service (WPS), responded to a report of a stolen BMW SUV nearing the city of Medicine Hat.

Members of the MHPS conducted a high risk vehicle stop and arrested a 24-year-old male, from Calgary, AB, without incident. A search of the vehicle incidental to arrest located stolen property, with an estimated value of $10,000, suspected to be from MB. Total value of recovered property is estimated to be valued in excess of $50,000.

The male is currently held in police custody awaiting a Judicial Interim Release hearing. The name of the individual cannot be released as the formal charges have not been sworn to before a Justice of the Peace. Additional charges are pending from the WPS.

Media Contact

Acting S/Sgt Harley Kesler
Patrol Section
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 403-529-8461

20-16142

On July 21, 2020 at approximately 8:20PM, members of the Medicine Hat Police Service responded to the 100 block of Anson Ave SW for a report of a motor vehicle collision involving a pedestrian versus vehicle. Emergency Medical Services transported the pedestrian to the Medicine Hat Regional Hospital where the 71 year old male later succumbed to his fatal injuries. Emergency crews have since departed the scene, however Police continue to investigate the cause of this collision. There are no further details available at this time.

The MHPS extends condolences to the friends and family of the deceased male. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.

On July 20, 2020 members of the Medicine Hat Police Service (MHPS) responded to six different calls for service related to mental health and addictions crisis. Five of those calls resulted in persons being apprehended under the provisions of the mental health act and transported to a medical facility for evaluation.

All of the calls were successfully deescalated without injury to the subjects, the officers or members of the community. The calls are summarized as follows:

• Disturbance with violence where officers were able to diffuse the situation without incident and subject transported to medical facility.
• Disturbed person with a knife brandished as a weapon
• Call which required police to force entry to a residence where subject threatened self-harm with a knife. The matter was successfully diffused and the subject was transported to medical facility.
• Subject with mental health issued related to drug addiction was actively causing a disturbance and property damage. Officers were threatened with a hypodermic needle but the situation was diffused without incident.
• Subject with complex needs and addictions issues. This subject was dealt with, without the need for arrest and was provided with community supports. No weapons involved.
• Local medical facility requested police attendance to diffuse a crisis situation on site.

On average the MHPS receives 1,200 calls for service per year related to mental illness or addictions concerns, with approximately 1/3 of those resulting in apprehensions under the provisions of the Mental Health Act. Recently there has been a great deal of discussion provincially and nationally regarding police response to mental health calls, exploring a different approach to responding to individuals in crisis. Our Service is open to that dialogue as the root issues continue to worsen and we are aware that we cannot solve these issues without collaboration and partnership with our public health partners. In the meanwhile our goal will be to remain committed to focusing on the safety of the person in crisis, the responding officers and our community. At the MHPS, officers receive training in; crisis communications and de-escalation, mental health, implicit biased training, and recognition of emotionally disturbed persons.

Since 2016, the MHPS, in partnership with Alberta Health Services (AHS), has paired a mental health clinician and a police officer with the purpose of identifying and diverting individuals with mental illness or addiction issues away from the justice system and toward the most appropriate community services and resources to stabilize them.

By having a mental health specialist review calls with police, clients immediately receive a mental health assessment, and the team determines the most appropriate course of action. Teams also provide assertive community outreach to the vulnerable homeless population by building a rapport with individuals and connecting them with appropriate community services. Since its inception the MHPS has noted a 50 percent reduction in suicides and attempted suicides and an 8 percent reduction in total mental health calls, while it is still too early to draw conclusions, the MHPS believes that integrated model for intervention is the key to success.

For more information contact:

Insp Brent Secondiak
Operational Services Division
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 403-529-8412

Members of the Medicine Hat Police Service are investigating a single vehicle motor vehicle collision that occurred on Holsom Road at the intersection with Highway #3, which has resulted in the death of a 58-year-old female, who was the driver and lone occupant of a motorcycle.

Police are on scene conducting the investigation into the cause of this collision and as such the intersection at the Holsom Road and Highway #3 will be closed until the evening of July 20, 2020. Traffic will be rerouted from this intersection, but the public is encouraged to avoid the area if possible. An update will be provided once the roadway is cleared.

The MHPS extends condolences to the friends and family of the deceased female. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.

Media Contact:

Sgt. Gerald Sadlemyer
Traffic Unit
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 403-529-8471

Between 11:00 PM on July 15, 2020 and 8:00 AM on July 16, 2020, unknown person(s) spray painted “CHHS 2020” in white on multiple vehicles and property in the area of 2 Avenue NE and 18 Street NE, Medicine Hat. An estimate of the damage is unavailable at this time.

The Medicine Hat Police Service is requesting that anyone with information regarding these incidents call 403-529-8481, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS(8477) or submit a tip via the MHPS website or mobile app. The MHPS mobile app 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:

A/S/Sgt Jeff Klick
Patrol Section
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 403-529-8461

The Medicine Hat Police Service received a complaint of a fake gold/ jewellery scam on July 9, 2020. The most recent victim was approached by persons of Middle Eastern descent, who advise the victim that they were selling legitimate gold and silver jewelry valued at $60,000, for a substantially reduced amount. The victim of the fraud later learn that the gold is worthless, but only after having lost a substantial amount of money.

This most recent incident was reported in the Flats area of Medicine Hat, but previous complaints have been received in the parking lots of local shopping areas. The accused was observed driving a newer model light green Chevrolet Equinox. A similar scam has been reported in other communities across Alberta and Saskatchewan in recent months.

The MHPS would again like to remind the public that these types of crimes are frequent within our community. The suspects are very compelling and will have believable stories regarding the nature of the gold. The most practical advice when dealing with similar occurrences is, that if something seems too good to be true, then it probably is.

Anyone with information that could help in the investigation can call the MHPS at 403-529-8481 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

Media Contact:

Sgt Gerald Sadlemyer

403-529-8471

Online reporting can be used for reporting a crime if the loss or damage is under $5,000 and there are no suspects.  Reports can be filed online 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  Once the information is submitted, a file number will be generated and final report returned to the email provided, usually within 24 hours. If you do not have internet access or have an email address, you can report the incident by calling (403) 529-8481.

The following report types should be submitted online:

• Theft from vehicle (car prowling)– Up to $5,000 value of property
• Theft of property– Up to $5,000 value of property
• Theft of credit or debit card (when that is the only item missing)
• Mischief to vehicle– such as vandalism
• Mischief to property– such as vandalism & graffiti
• Lost property– with the exception of government-issued ID such as passports. Please call (403) 529-8481 to report lost government issued documents.
• Attempted stolen vehicle– regardless of damage value
• Break & enter into unlocked premise other than residential (includes; sheds, parking garages, storage lockers, detached garages, etc.) Residential and commercial break and enters should be reported to (403)-529-8481.
• Theft of mail (including packages from postal services and other delivery services)
• Stolen property for sale online (including; Kijiji, Craigslist, Facebook, etc.)

For all other property-related offences, please call the MHPS non-emergency line 403-529-8481, where officers are available to answer questions and take some reports over the phone.

To report a motor vehicle collision with no injuries, call the Collision Reporting Centre at 403-581-1070.

Call 9-1-1 for all emergencies and to report crimes in progress.

Other service that can be completed online or thru the MHPS mobile app include:

• Police Information Checks - (18 years or older)
• Submitting Crime Tips
• Parking Ticket Appeals 
• Alarm System Registration 

Payment of pet licenses can be made at City Hall or APARC and payment of parking tickets can be completed at City Hall.

On July 7, 2020, at approximately 8:15 AM, the Medicine Hat Police Service received a report of a male in distress in the zero hundred block of 3 Street SE. Police attended to the area and located a 46-year-old male victim, who reported he had been threatened with a firearm and punched in the face before being robbed of a large sum of cash.

Police immediately surrounded the area and began searching for the suspect. A short time later a 25 year-old male was located hiding nearby in an adjacent apartment. The male is currently in custody, awaiting a bail hearing, and facing charges of; Robbery, Obstruction of Justice, Unlawfully in a Dwelling, Breach of Release Conditions.

After a short investigation it is believed that this was a targeted incident and that there is no further risk to the community.

The Medicine Hat Police Service would like to thank the member of the public who reported this situation and remind residents to report suspicious activity by calling 911 for all emergencies or 403-529-8481 for non- emergencies. Members of the community can also submit tips through the MHPS mobile app, which is free to download and available for both Apple and Android devices.

Media Contact:

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

The Medicine Hat Police Service (MHPS) continues to receive numerous reports from community members who have fallen victim to phone scams over the past several weeks. Fraudsters will often represent themselves as police officers or as employees of Revenue Canada and the calls can either be a real voice or a recording prompting you to press a number to connect with an agent. Notable recent scams include;

The scammer will pose as a police officer who claims the victim’s SIN has been compromised and used in fraudulent activity. The individual called is asked to confirm their SIN and other personal information. The scammer then tells the victim that they owe money and must pay in Bitcoin or else the officer will arrest the victim. Victims are instructed to withdraw money from their bank account and deposit into a local bitcoin machine or requested to purchase google play cards, scratch the code on the back and provide that to the scammer.

In the past four weeks at least five different local victims have lost over $20,000 by depositing money in local bitcoin machines, sending cash in the mail or purchasing google play cards. Unfortunately once sent there is no way of tracing this money.

The MHPS once again wants to remind citizens to always be wary of phone calls from anyone claiming you are under investigation, or that your personal information has been compromised, that there is a warrant for your arrest or that you owe money for some other purpose, especially from callers who are aggressive in demanding money.

As a reminder, no police agency or Revenue Canada employee will ever demand you pay money through bitcoin, Google Play cards or request that you send cash money in the mail. If you receive a call and are unsure of its legitimacy please call the MHPS at 403 529-8457 to speak with an officer.

Due to the extremely high volume of fraudulent call attempts, if you have received a fraudulent call but are not a victim (meaning you have not shared your personal information, bank information, and have not made any payment) then there is no need to report or contact police

For more information about these and other common frauds and scams visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca

Media Contact:

Sgt Darlene Garrecht
Community Safety Unit
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 403-529-8451