ARTICLES

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

The Medicine Hat Police Service Major Crime Section has charged a 53-year-old Medicine Hat man in relation to an attempted sexual assault on an adult female.

On December 21, 2019 at about 2:30 am in the Medicine Hat Tee Pee parking lot, Claudio Tovar Aguilar was observed forcibly grabbing a female victim and pushing her back into his vehicle. He was subsequently arrested at scene by officers. The victim was transported to hospital as a precautionary measure to be assessed for any injuries and any required medical treatment. The Medicine Hat Police Service Major Crime Section is continuing this investigation.

As a result of the arrest Claudio Tovar Aguilar, 53 of Medicine Hat has been charged with:

• Attempted Sexual Assault
• Administer an Overpowering Drug in order to commit an indictable offence
• Unlawful Confinement
• Possession of a Controlled Substance

Claudio Tovar Aguilar appeared before a Justice of the Peace and was released from custody on a $4000 no cash deposit Release Oder with conditions. His next court date is scheduled for January 15, 2020.

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) through 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.

On December 20, 2019 the Medicine Hat Police Service Major Crime Section concluded an internal theft investigation, totaling an estimated $315,000. The investigation has resulted in a 36-year-old Medicine Hat woman facing criminal charges.

Investigators determined that the offender was responsible for numerous internal thefts from a local restaurant between October of 2016 and September of 2109. At the time of the offences, the offender held a managerial position with the company. Based on the investigation to date, it is believed that these thefts were isolated to the one business.

Nianjiao Yang of Medicine Hat, has been charged with theft over $5,000 and fraud over $5000. Yang is scheduled to appear in court on January 22, 2020.

The Trans Canada Hwy at 16th Avenue light maintenance is complete.  The MHPS would like to thank motorists for their patients while this important work was completed.

Please avoid the Trans Canada Hwy at 16th Street SW as there will be emergency maintanance being done on the traffic lights.   Expect lengthy delays for the next 30 to 60 minutes.   Please avoid this area if possible.

Police are on scene at a single vehicle MVC on Dunmore Road hill (near Ravine Dr) which has reduced the southbound lanes to one lane causing congestion.  Please avoid the area if possible until it can be cleared.

Thousands of dollars’ worth of stolen property was recovered after ALERT and Medicine Hat Police Service teamed up to target a suspected methamphetamine dealer.

The joint forces investigation concluded on December 4, 2019, when a rural home was searched in Cypress County, located east of Medicine Hat.

Inside the home, police located approximately 20 grams of meth, along with four firearms and a prohibited 50-round drum magazine. A wide range of suspected stolen property was recovered from an outbuilding on the property.

The suspected stolen property included tools, machinery, and bicycles, which are valued at more than $20,000. MHPS will be attempting to return the stolen property to its rightful owners.

Investigators from ALERT Medicine Hat’s organized crime team and MHPS Priority Street Crimes Unit conducted the investigation in response to meth trafficking concerns, and the correlation with property crimes offences.

“Our community has felt the negative relationship between meth abuse and secondary offences, such as property crime and thefts. Police will continue to target the dealers and the most prolific offenders,” said Staff Sgt. Kelsey Fraser, ALERT Medicine Hat.

Three people were arrested and face multiple charges:

• Denver Ailsby, a 40-year-old man from Cypress County;

• Mike Bishop, a 37-year-old man from Medicine Hat; and

• Keith Baker, a 41-year-old man of no fixed address.

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.

Notices to media:

• High-resolution photos of goods seized are available for download by clicking the thumbnails above.

• A version of this news release is available on ALERT's website

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