ARTICLES

Police,Fire and Emergency Medical Services attended to Cameron Road at Ross Glen Green for a single vehicle collision.   A 1989 Econoline Van lost control, striking a parked vehicle and coming to rest on a residential lawn.   The driver and lone occupant of the van was not injured.   There was significant damage to the parked vehicle as well as the Econoline Van.   Damage estimated at $10,000.

On January 4^th, 2020 at approximately 12:30PM MHPS received a 911 phone call reporting that there was an ongoing dispute in the 200 block of Southlands Blvd SE with a report of a gun shot. Members of the Patrol Section responded to the call for service and quickly took a 29 year old Medicine Hat man into custody without incident. Investigation by officers at scene revealed that there was in fact no gun shot fired at any time however the male suspect in custody is facing numerous firearms and other criminal code charges. No injuries were sustained by the suspect, bystanders or police and there are no public safety concerns at this time. The matter is still under investigation at this time.

MHPS Patrol Staff Sergeant

Recovered stolen vehicle:

On January 4^th, 2020 at approximately 07:40 am members of MHPS Patrol Section conducted a vehicle stop on a 2013 GMC Yukon SUV on the 3200 block of 13^th Avenue Southeast. Patrol members quickly learned that the vehicle involved in the stop had been stolen the previous day from a local business. As a result of the investigation, the vehicle was returned to the owner and police currently have a 29 year old female in custody from Viking, Alberta as well as a 39 year old Medicine Hat man. Both subjects are held in custody awaiting a bail hearing facing numerous charges including possession of stolen property over $5000.00 and possession of a controlled substance.

MHPS Patrol Staff Sergeant

On January 2, 2020, at approximately 1600 hours members of the Medicine Hat Police Service (MHPS) attended to a call of a Domestic Dispute, to an apartment building in the 700 Block of 12^th St NW Medicine Hat. At the scene, Police Officers determine that there was a male inside the residence who was breaching a court order and refused to speak further with Police. Members of the Police Service also learned that there was a female occupant within the suite that was being unlawfully confined, and the male barricaded the suite from Police Officers.

The members at scene, correctly identified an extremely dangerous situation and enacted the MHPS protocol for barricaded subjects. Members of the MHPS Tactical team, Crisis Negotiators Team, K9 unit, and the incident command, took control of the situation and attempted negotiations with the subject. Occupants of the apartment building were told to “shelter in place” to prevent any injuries to innocent third parties.

Once it was determined the negotiations were unsuccessful, members of the Tactical team entered the residence with judicial authorization and arrested the accused. No injuries were reported at the scene and a female was removed from the residence uninjured. The Police Service would like to thank the public for their assistance in this matter and the patient of the occupants of the apartment building.

The accused in this occurrence is facing charges of breach of a court order and unlawful confinement. The Major Crimes Unit is now investigating the incident. The accused has been identified as a 27 year old male from Regina Saskatchewan. The male can not be identified until charges have been sworn in front of a justice of the peace. No further information will be released at this time.

Media Contact

Insp. Brent Secondiak

403-529-8410

The Medicine Hat Police is currently at the scene of a serious incident in the 700 block of 12 Street NW.  We and are requesting that the public stay away from the area at this time.  Further information to follow.

On January 2, 2020, at approximately 1300 hours Medicine Hat 911 Communication received a panic alarm from the Medicine Hat Mall, 3292 Dunmore Road SE. A second call was received within seconds of the first requesting an ambulance for a male who had been injured by another mall patron. Police and EMS arrived on scene and responded to a 72 year old male victim with serious injuries. Police were alerted to the location of a male suspect who was attempting to leave the scene on foot. The 40 year old male subject was challenged by police and taken into custody without further incident.

Police investigators currently have a small section of the Medicine Hat Mall contained in order to conduct a further investigation. The male victim in this matter has been transported to the Medicine Hat Regional Hospital and is receiving ongoing care.

Police believe this was an isolated incident; as the accused and the victim are known to each other. The identity of the accused can not be released at this time until formal charges are sworn to. No further information regarding incident will be released, as details of the incident must be confirmed. The Police Service would like to thank the public for their patience as investigators continue to speak to witnesses at scene.

Media Contact

S/Sgt Ryan Thorburn

403-529-8461

The Medicine Hat Police Service traffic safety focus for the month of January is Intersection Safety.

Intersections are high-risk locations because drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists converge in intersections and need to safely cross each others’ paths. Aggressive behaviours like speeding, running red lights, or entering the intersection without properly looking can result in collisions, injury, and death.

Intersection Safety Facts:

· On average, 65 people are killed and 8,024 are injured each year at intersections in Alberta.

· About 96% of intersection collisions occurred in urban areas from 2012-2016. However, over half (about 53%) of fatal intersection collisions during the same time occurred in rural intersections.

· Over 85% of collisions involve a driver error. Three of the top five driver errors identified in casualty collisions occur in intersections: left turns, stop sign violations, and disobeying a traffic signal.

· Slush, snow, or ice was involved in about 14% of fatal collisions and 16% of injury collisions in 2016. This makes it especially important to slow down and be careful approaching and crossing intersections this winter.

UPDATE: The Trans Canada Hwy is now reopened. The initial phase of the investigation determined that a 44 YO male sustained serious but non-life threatening injuries when he was struck by a tractor trailer unit that was travelling westbound on the Trans Canada Hwy near 7^th Street SW. The injured male was transported to the Medicine Hat Regional Hospital by EMS. The 65 year old male semi driver was not injured during the collision and the police investigation into the cause of the incident is still ongoing.  Any witnesses are asked to contact the MHPS Traffic Unit at (403) 529-8481.

Medicine Hat Emergency Services are currently on scene of a pedestrian MVC near the intersection of the Trans Canada Hwy and 7^th Street SW. Traffic is currently being re-routed for the westbound lanes of the Trans Canada Hwy in order for personnel to safely assess the situation and conduct an investigation.  If travelling westbound on the Trans Canada Hwy expect delays and if possible please avoid this area for the next several hours.

On December 25, 2019, at approximately 2200 hours police were called to a business intrusion alarm in the 500 block of South Railway St SE.  Police attended the scene, met with the business manager, and found that entry to the business was gained by smashing out a window.  It is believed that the audible alarm sounded soon after the intrusion which startled the subjects and they immediately left the area on foot.  

Footwear impressions were observed in the snow leading away from the main door of the business and southbound out of the area. Containment was set up and a 39 YO male and a 37 YO female were located and apprehended a short distance away, without incident.  Criminal charges of Shopbreaking with Intent are pending. 
 

During the early morning hours of December 25th, a Medicine Hat family received a very unpleasant surprise when they were awakened to a male subject who had found his way into the couples residence in the neighborhood of Church Court Southeast. Once inside the residence, the intruder caused damage to the residence in an amount not exceeding $5000.00. Owners of the residence promptly called 911 and patrols officers subsequently took the suspect into custody without incident. It is suspected the 43 year old male suspect was under the influence of illicit drugs at the time of the offence and he is not known to the owners of the residence. The suspect is facing charges of break and enter and commit mischief under $5000.00 and will be released for court at a later date.

Patrol Staff Sergeant