ARTICLES

The Medicine Hat Police Service (MHPS) introduced a new resource today – an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), intended to create efficiencies while increasing the safety of the public and police officers.

The program was made possible when four DJI Mavic Pro 2s’ UAVs were generously lent to the MHPS at no cost.

The use of UAV’s are heavily regulated by Transport Canada and MHPS policy directs that they will be used exclusively for; aerial photography and the reconstruction of serious motor vehicle collisions / outdoor crime scenes, as well as for search and rescue and tactical purposes including calls for service involving armed subjects with a weapon and/or barricades subjects, incidents involving hostages and incidents involving explosive devices.

UAV’s have been used for domestic police work in Canada and the United States for over a decade, including by all other major police services in the provinces, and have demonstrated their effectiveness in police applications. The MHPS currently has two officers, who are certified to operate the UAV’s.

The MHPS is mindful of public privacy concerns regarding the use of drones, and has limited the scope of deployment to be respectful of these concerns. “UAV technology has the ability to increase community safety and we would be remiss as a Service not to explore it. Obtaining the equipment at no cost has allowed us to do so in a fiscally responsible manner, while also ensuring that public safety and privacy concerns are at the forefront of our deployment. The drones will be used in an operational capacity and not as a surveillance tool” says Chief Andy McGrogan.

Media Contact:

Insp Brent Secondiak
Operational Services Division
Medicine Hat Police Service
PH: 403-529-8416

Specifications of the DJI Mavic Pro 2s’ UAV’s:

The Mavic is a specific type of drone called a quadcopter, which gets its name from the four rotors that generate lift and allow it to fly. The Mavic 2 Pro is rated for up to 31 minutes of flight on a full battery. The drone has a wing span of 30cm and weighs approximately 900 grams. Specifications include:

• Backward and side facing cameras for obstacle avoidance
• Top and bottom facing IR TOF sensors for obstacle avoidance
• Top speed of 45mph
• Quiet propellers
• Long 8Km range using Ocusync 2.0
• H.265 video recording

At approximately 0015 hours on January 23, 2020 members of the Medicine Hat Police Service located Adam DAWE inside a residence located in the zero hundred block of Cuyler Road SE. Contact was made with DAWE and after a lengthy negotiation DAWE eventually surrendered himself to police. DAWE was arrested on outstanding warrants and additional criminal charges are currently pending.

The MHPS would like to thank the public for the assistance with this matter.

Media Contact:

S/Sgt Rod Thompson
Patrol Section
Medicine Hat Police Service
PH: 403-529-8481

On January 21, 2020 at approximately 6:49 AM an Oldsmobile Alero was reported travelling west on the Trans Canada Highway in the eastbound lanes near Dunmore, AB. The vehicle entered the ditch, then continued driving in the appropriate lanes westbound. The Oldsmobile Alero then left the roadway and struck a power pole, before continuing on into Medicine Hat city limits and was involved in a collision with a vehicle on Ross Glen Drive SE.

The male driver of the Oldsmobile Alero was assessed on scene and it was determined he was suffering from a medical issue and was transported to hospital.

No injuries reported by either driver. Total damage to the vehicles involved and power pole is in excess of $8,000.

The Medicine Hat Police Service Traffic Unit continues to investigate the collision and a report to the Alberta Traffic Safety Board has been submitted in regards to the incident. The Medicine Hat Police Service would like to thank all witnesses that provided information.

Media Contact:

Cst Darren Holeha
Traffic Unit
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 403-529-8481

Two people have been arrested and a warrant is being sought for one more following an investigation by ALERT’s Medicine Hat organized crime team.

The two-month investigation concluded on January 12, 2020, when ALERT investigators initiated a vehicle stop between Medicine Hat and Redcliff. It is alleged that the occupants of the vehicle were part of a drug trafficking group that operated in Medicine Hat, but had ties to Calgary.

From the vehicle, investigators seized drugs and cash worth approximately $68,300, including:

• 532 grams of methamphetamine;

• 96 grams of suspected carfentanil;

• 57 grams of cocaine;

• 211 grams of a cocaine buffing agent; and

• $1,325 in cash proceeds of crime.

“This is not the first time in which we have seized suspected carfentanil in Medicine Hat, but this is the most significant amount we have seized to date,” said Staff Sgt. Kelsey Fraser, ALERT Medicine Hat. “While we’re still waiting on lab results to confirm exactly what’s in the drugs that were seized, the possibility of carfentanil being present in Medicine Hat poses a serious risk to the safety of the community.”

A replica handgun was also seized from the vehicle.

Ryan Porter, 44, of Calgary was arrested and faces a total of 22 criminal charges, including: trafficking a controlled substance; possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking; possession of proceeds of crime; breach of a weapons prohibition; and breach of recognizance.

Tristan Skappak, 29, of no fixed address was arrested and charged with three counts of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking.

A warrant is being sought for the arrest of a 36-year-old woman. ALERT is not providing her name as the charges against her have not yet been officially sworn.

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:

Staff Sgt. Kelsey Fraser
Medicine Hat Organized Crime Team
Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT)
Ph: 403-529-8425

Glenn Cook
Communications Consultant
Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT)
Phone: 780-509-3028
Cell: 780-218-2825

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