ARTICLES

PSP / FRAUD MHPS File 2019-21199

On August 27, 2019, at approximately 1405 hours a member of the Medicine Hat Police Service was called to the area of Yuill Street and Allowance Avenue for a suspicious person complaint. The diligent police officer observed the suspicious male enter a local business in this area and followed the subject inside to further investigate. Once inside the 35 year old subject, whose name cannot yet be released, was observed using a stolen credit card to purchase merchandise. The store owner was notified by the credit card company to contact police, which in this particular instance, was as easy as handing the stolen credit card notification over the counter to the officer who was standing directly behind the subject. The male was immediately taken into custody for the offence and will appear in court in the near future to answer to these charges.

A video is being shared on social media of the incident; however, the Medicine Hat Police Service cannot release any further details until formal charges have been laid.

This is a great example of the partnership between members of our community and the police service!

Media Contact:

S/Sgt Ryan Thorburn #320
Patrol Section
Medicine Hat Police Service
(403)529-8481

The Medicine Hat Police Service (MHPS) recognizes that the presence of drug trafficking, especially in our neighbourhoods, is a public safety concern and unacceptable. Members of the community can assist police by reporting suspicious behavior police for follow up and investigation. All reports of suspected drug activity are taken seriously. The Police Service executes several warrants each month on residences where drug trafficking occurs.

The following are common signs of suspicious or illegal drug activity. Observing one of the following does not always signal illegal activity, but if they occur frequently or together, a problem may exist.

Signs to look for include:

• Residents that are rarely seen, distant or secretive
• Frequent visitors and unusual traffic at odd times of the day or night
• People repeatedly visiting the property who only go to the door for short durations
• Residents who regularly meet vehicles near the property for short periods.
• Presence of drug paraphernalia (NOTE: Safelink – HIV Community Link in Southeastern Alberta has a needle debris hotline that you can call or text the location of the needle or debris and their outreach team will come to pick it up and safely dispose of it. This service is available Monday to Friday 10am to 6pm by calling or texting (403)866- 4698.)

If you suspect you may be living next to a drug house, the following are some things you can do to mitigate the problem:

• Zero Tolerance. Call the MHPS for any violations of the law you encounter including; excessive noise, unsightly yard, dogs at large, parking violations, noisy parties, noisy vehicles, driving complaints, open liquor on the street, fights etc. These types of lesser offences often go hand-in-hand with drug trafficking. The more attention a drug dealer gets from Police and Bylaw Enforcement, the more likely they are to move on.

The MHPS cannot enter a residence to search for drugs or people without a warrant authorizing them to do so. This only granted if a judge is convinced that there are reasonable and probable grounds to believe drug trafficking is taking place and there are grounds to believe there are drugs within the residence, a police officer cannot assume without secondary information that drugs are always present within a drug house. You can help police form their grounds by keeping detailed notes of dates, times, license plates and other information that help show drug activity is taking place.

When a problem property is identified and there is enough supporting evidence to act, the MHPS will work closely with the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods (SCAN) Unit to hold owners accountable for activity taking place on their property and supports landlords by helping them remove problem tenants who disrupt neighbourhoods and destroy property. SCAN can apply to the courts for a Community Safety Order (CSO) that calls for owners to meet a number of conditions, or for the property to be closed for up to 90 days. Neighbors must be diligent as a CSO may take months to obtain as information, notes, intelligence and surveillance are conducted on a problem location.

If you are suspicious about a property in your neighborhood, do not investigate it yourself or approach the occupants. Contact the MHPS at 403-529-8481 or SCAN at 1-866-960-SCAN (7226). Tips may also be submitted (anonymously if preferred) via 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 Cory Both
Organized Crime Section
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 403-529-8416

Over-Dimensional Load Escort

On Monday, August 26 at 9:30am the MHPS Traffic Unit will be conducting an over-dimensional load escort. The escort will be travelling from the town of Dunmore, westbound to west town limits of Redcliff.

Due to the size of the loads, the escort will be required to counter-flow the Trans-Canada Hwy. This will affect traffic along Highway #1 in both the east and westbound lanes, along with parts of Bomfort Cres SW, Redcliff Dr SW and Gershaw Dr SW. The escort is expected to take approximately one hour to complete so please plan your commute accordingly.

MHPS appreciates the motoring public's cooperation during these escorts and reminds motorists to obey all police officer, pilot vehicle and flag person's directions.

The Medicine Hat Police Service Major Crime Section has charged at 58-year-old woman in connection with an internal theft from the Medicine Hat Rifle and Revolver Club.

At the time of the offence, the woman held a position on the Board of Directors with the Medicine Hat Rifle and Revolver Club. Based on the investigation to date, it is believed that the theft was isolated to this one organization, and is estimated at $36,000.

Christa Keating, 58, of Medicine Hat, is charged with theft over $5,000. Keating is scheduled to appear in court on September 24, 2019.

Media Contact:

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

Over-Dimensional Load Escort

On Thursday, August 22nd at 11:00am the MHPS Traffic Unit will be conducting an over-dimensional load escort. The escort will be travelling from the town of Dunmore, westbound to west town limits of Redcliff.

Due to the size of the loads, the escort will be required to counter-flow the Trans-Canada Hwy. This will affect traffic along Highway #1 in both the east and westbound lanes, along with parts of Bomfort Cres SW, Redcliff Dr SW and Gershaw Dr SW. The escort is expected to take approximately one hour to complete so please plan your commute accordingly.

MHPS appreciates the motoring public's cooperation during these escorts and reminds motorists to obey all police officer, pilot vehicle and flag person's directions.

On August 18, 2019 at approximately 4:30 PM, the Medicine Hat Police Service (MHPS) received a report of a suspicious person and vehicle located in the 800 block of 5^th Street SE. An officer attended the area and located a male, who was determined to be, Robert Horon, age 34 years, of Redcliff, AB.

Horon had been previously charged by the MHPS on August 17, 2019 with four counts of criminal harassment and at the time of the second arrest was breaching the conditions of his release, which included being prohibited from going to any; public park, swimming pool, daycare center, school ground, playground or community center; and not to possess any weapons.

Robert Horon age 34 of Redcliff AB, has subsequently been charged with two counts of breach of recognizance, due to his proximity to a school ground and a search of the accused’s vehicle located an improvised weapon. Horon is in custody and scheduled to appear in Provincial Court on August 20, 2019.

Media Contact:

S/Sgt Trevor Humphries
Patrol Section
Medicine Hat Police Service

Ph: 403-529-8461

On August 17, 2019, police were alerted to the presence of a male in the area of 19 St SE, who appeared to be watching and subsequently approaching his female victims, in a manner that was causing alarm and distress to the victims and their accompanying children.  The male was reported to be driving a silver dually Dodge RAM with Alberta Plates.  This male was located shortly after by police in the area of 13 Ave SE, Medicine Hat and arrested for 2 counts of Criminal Harassment.  A subsequent investigation revealed two further victims of his activity and a further 2 counts of Criminal Harassment were laid.  The male, who can now be identified as Robert Horan, 34 years, of Redcliff Alberta was the subject of a Judicial Interim Release Hearing and was released for a future court appearance on August 29th to answer to the charges.  He was placed on release conditions by the court, of no contact with his victims, not to go within 200 meters of their residences, not to possess any weapons, not to have any contact with a child under the age of 14 years and he is banned from going to any public park, swimming pool, daycare center, school ground, playground or community center.  Members of the public are encouraged to continue to report all such suspicious activity to MHPS.  The public is reminded that MHPS does not accept reports via Facebook. 

Media contact

Staff Sergeant Darren Lole

On August 12, 2019 at about 6:00 pm police received multiple 9-1-1 complaints of a male hanging onto the outside of a grey GMC Acadia as it was driven in the area of Dunmore Rd SE and Southview Dr SE. Witnesses observed the female driver asking for help as she drove the vehicle with a male holding onto the opened rear window of the vehicle. The vehicle came to a stop on Dunmore Rd SE near 20 Ave SE. The 37 year old male, who had been holding onto the outside of the vehicle, he was treated by Paramedics for minor injuries, and is in police custody awaiting a Bail Hearing on the charge of Uttering Threats. The 42 year old female driver of the vehicle was unharmed. It was later determined that the two individuals involved were domestic partners and are not from Medicine Hat or area.

The 37 year old male is in custody awaiting a bail hearing, the name of the accused cannot be released as the Bail Hearing has not been completed.

The Medicine Hat Police Service would like to thank the public for its assistance in this matter as well as stressing the importance of reporting all domestic violence related incidents.

Media Contact:

S/Sgt. Stacey Kesler

Patrol Section

Medicine Hat Police service

Ph: 403-529-8461

On August 10th at approximately 2:30AM police responded to a structure fire at the Northlands multi-dwelling complexes. Upon arrival, one of the dwellings was billowing smoke and flame from the patio and exterior wall(s). Emergency services suppressed the fire as police checked on the well being of area occupants. Fortunately no one was injured and the scene was deemed safe for the area residents.

Police located the person responsible for igniting this fire. a young boy (under the age of 12) was found to be responsible for starting the fire. Under the Criminal Code of Canada, criminal charges cannot be laid on a person under this age threshold (Arson).

Police utilized the MHPS mobile app to publish an immediate notification to subscribed local residents to avoid this area. This immediate form of communication to our community serves as an invaluable tool to help police mitigate public safety and allow our emergency personnel to do their work.

S/Sgt Fraser #279

On August 7 at approximately 4:30pm an officer attended to a multi-dwelling unit in the downtown core for a routine follow up on a complaint. The attending officer arrived at the complex parking lot intending to speak with a person about a minor compliant. As the officer was walking to the building he observed a male, unrelated to the call for service, standing in the lot holding a hand gun and he appeared to be manipulating the weapon as if he was trying to place a round into the chamber. The officer responded to this by drawing his service firearm and issued verbal police challenges for the male to drop the weapon. Several verbal commands to drop the gun were ignored and the officer placed a radio call for immediate back up. The male then started closing the distance towards the officer, simultaneously stuffing the gun in his waist band. The suspect then stumbled and fell into a seated position on the ground and still did not relinquish the weapon as directed. The male then began reaching for the weapon in his waistband at which time a second officer arrived on scene. The male, resisted arrest and was able to be controlled by both officers.

This male was then secured into custody and the weapon was seized from his waistband. This handgun was then discovered to be a replica firearm. The male was also noted to be under the influence of alcohol and possible narcotics.

The male is being held in custody to await a Judicial Interim Release hearing on the following charges:

• Possess weapon dangerous to public peace
• Breach of Undertaking
• Breach of Probation
• Outstanding warrants

“Replica firearms” by definition, look and feel like a real firearm, hence the term “replica”. When these devices are abused in such as a fashion, a great amount of risk comes with that behavior. Responding police are put in a critical position and have to make rapid decisions to assess the threat. There is no “time-out” for an officer to get a close look and analyze the weapon to see if its real or not. It is very fortunate that these two seasoned officers were able to diffuse this crisis as it had a high risk of becoming a lethal confrontation.

The males name is not being released as the bail hearing as not yet been conducted.

Media contact

S/Sgt Fraser 279

403-529-8461