ARTICLES

The Medicine Hat Police Service has received numerous complaints over the past several days from people reporting a Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) scam.

There have been two types of calls that have been trending in Medicine Hat recently:

• Scam #1

The caller will identify themselves as being from the CRA and accuse the person of owing money and will also make threats to have the person arrested and charged.

The scammer will direct the person to purchase iTunes gift cards or other type of gift card to pay off their debt and instruct them to call back with the card codes. The cards will then be used by the scammer to sell on the black market.

• Scam #2

The caller will identify themselves as a police officers and advise the victim that their Social Insurance Number (SIN) has been compromised, and request that the victim confirm their SIN over the phone.

To protect against these common frauds, it is important to remain vigilant and NEVER provide personal or financial information over the phone. Likewise, never comply with an unsolicited phone caller who demands payment in gift cards.

Remember:

• The CRA will never call and threaten to have you arrested for not paying your taxes.

• The CRA will never ask for payment in the form of gift cards or prepaid credit cards.

• If you are contacted and told you owe money, always confirm with the CRA directly. Look up the phone number online and do not use the call back number that the caller has provided. Do not trust your call display. It may say Police or ABC but in reality it is a scammer.

• If your workplace sells gift cards, be on the lookout for potential victims and inform them about this scam. Victims may seem stressed and agitated and purchasing a large amount of gift cards.

If you or someone you know is a victim of the CRA scam or any other fraud contact the Medicine Hat Police Service at 403-529-8481 to report.

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:

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

The Medicine Hat Police would like to urge motorists to avoid the area of Trans Canada Highway at Box Springs Road as officers are currently investigating a motor vehicle collision.  Road conditions are poor and we are asking that you exercise extreme caution while driving in and around the city.

The Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) for the month of November will focus on the proper use of occupant restraints, particularly child safety seats. Throughout the month, police will work closely with Alberta Health Services, Safety City and other community partners to educate the public on occupant and child safety restraints. MHPS will be conducting safety compliance check stops in various locations where we will be targeting seatbelt usage and child safety restraints. The goal of these compliance checks is to ensure that all occupants are properly restrained, child safety seats are properly installed and that children are in the appropriate seat/position.

It’s important to buckle up every time you drive, no matter how short the distance. Properly used seat belts can reduce fatal and serious injury by 45-65% and without a booster seat, a child is 3.5 times more likely to suffer a significant injury! From 2012 to 2016 there were 341 unbelted fatalities in Alberta.

When determining the safest restraint system for your child please consider the following guidelines:

Transport Canada recommends that children should remain in a rear facing car seat for as long as possible, until they have reached the maximum weight or height limit for rear-facing seats as stated by the child seat manufacturer. Please check the labels on your child restraint seats for these specifications.

Forward facing child safety seats normally have a 5 point harness and must be attached using either the seatbelt or the vehicle’s UAS (universal anchor system). A forward facing seat must also have a top tether strap attached to the back of the seat. Be sure to carefully follow the installation instructions as specified by the child safety seat manufacturer, and if you’re unsure please consult a certified child safety seat technician.

Once a child has reached the maximum forward-facing weight or height limit of their safety seat as specified by the manufacturer, they should move to a booster seat. The Transport Canada guidelines state that this transition can occur once the child has reached 18 kg (40 lbs) and is under 145cm (4 feet 9 inches). A child usually reaches this criteria when they are between 8 and 12 years of age.

A child is ready to move from a booster to a seat belt when:

• They are at least 145cm (4 feet 9 inches) tall.
• Their knees bend comfortably at the edge of the seat when seated with their backs flat against the back of the seat.
• The lap belt stays low and snug across the hip bones.
• The shoulder belt crosses the chest and stays between your child’s neck and shoulder.
• They can sit like this for the whole trip without slouching.

Until you can check all 5 boxes, your child should continue to use a booster seat.

All child safety seats have an expiry that must be adhered to. It’s also critical that any child seat that has been in a collision should be replaced immediately. MHPS cautions parents from buying second hand car seats as the history of the seat may be unknown and this may put your child are risk. When disposing of used or damaged car seats please ensure that you cut the straps on the seat so it cannot be reclaimed and reused, or sold to unsuspecting parents.

It is the driver’s legal responsibility to ensure that every passenger under the age of 16 years is properly secured in the vehicle. Unrestrained or improperly restrained occupants could result in a fine against the driver, the passenger or both. But more importantly your safety depends on it as unbelted occupants continue to be one of the leading causes of death and serious injury in motor vehicle collisions.

For questions or assistance with car seat installations you may contact any of the following:

Medicine Hat Police Service Traffic Unit – 884 2^nd Street SE, 403-529-8471

Alberta Health Services – 2948 Dunmore Rd SE, 403-502-8302

Safety City – 2055 21 Ave SE, 403-529-2912

More information on child safety seats, including notices and recalls, can be found at:

http://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/safedrivers/childsafety or by calling Transport Canada toll free at 1-800-333-0371

Media Contact:

Sgt. Gerald Sadlemyer

Traffic Unit

Medicine Hat Police Service

Ph: 403-529-8471

Five people have been arrested after an ALERT investigation dismantled a drug trafficking network operating in southeast Alberta. More than $77,000 worth of drugs and cash were seized, along with a firearm.

The three-month investigation concluded on October 24, 2019, when ALERT’s Medicine Hat organized crime team executed a search warrant on a residence in Brooks, Alta., with the help of Brooks RCMP and Medicine Hat Police Service. Investigators allege that the drug trafficking operation was active in both Brooks and Medicine Hat.

In total, ALERT investigators seized:

• 719 grams of methamphetamine;
• 93 grams of cocaine;
• a rifle;
• a machete; and
• $24,685 in cash proceeds of crime.

“These are significant amounts of drugs and cash to take out of the hands of criminals,” said Staff Sgt. Kelsey Fraser, ALERT Medicine Hat. “Along with the weapons seized, this is a good step toward making the communities of both Brooks and Medicine Hat safer places to live.”

“Co-operation with partners like ALERT is integral to effective policing in southeast Alberta,” added Sgt. Bruce McDonald, acting commander of the Brooks RCMP detachment. “Cases such as this one demonstrate to criminals that they’ll still be found if they try to hide out in smaller centres.”

Kyle Potts, 33, is alleged to be at the centre of the network. He was arrested at the time of the search and charged with a total of 20 criminal offences, including:

• trafficking a controlled substance (x7);
• possession of proceeds of crime (x2);
• breach of recognizance (x7);
• possession of a weapon dangerous to the public;
• unauthorized possession of a firearm; and
• breach of a weapons prohibition (x2).

David Boyer, 33, and Daniel Morrison, 35, were also arrested at the time of the search. Boyer has been charged with one count each of trafficking a controlled substance, possession of proceeds of crime, and possession of a weapon dangerous to the public. Morrison has been charged with trafficking a controlled substance (x4) and possession of proceeds of crime.

Warrants were issued for two other suspects, who were both later arrested by Medicine Hat Police Service. Dallas Johnson, 27, was arrested on October 25, 2019, and charged with one count each of trafficking a controlled substance, possession of proceeds of crime, and breach of recognizance. David Kearley, 33, was arrested on October 30, 2019, and charged with trafficking a controlled substance (x2), possession of proceeds of crime, and breach of recognizance (x2).

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

Tonight's the night! Children are looking forward to dressing up as their favorite character to go trick or treating through the neighbourhood. While it is an exciting time for kids, it is important for parents and homeowners to follow some simple safety tips to ensure it is also a safe time.
• Children should trick or treat in groups in a familiar neighbourhood. Younger children should be accompanied by a trusted adult who accompanies them to the door of every home they approach.
• Review road safety rules, such as looking both ways before crossing the road and create a specific route for children to follow. Stay on side of the street and then cross over at the end of the block. Avoid crisscrossing the street.
• Carry a flashlight for extra visibility and only visit homes where the lights have been turned on. Remind children to never enter a stranger’s home or vehicle.
• Ensure children are dressed for the weather and that their costumes are easily visible by incorporating bright colors and reflective taped. Avoid masks with limited visibility or use face paint instead.
• Inspect all candy received and throw away any unwrapped or unsealed items.
• Homeowners, turn on your home’s exterior lights so children can easily find the front door. Keep candles or other flammable items out of the reach of children.
• Secure pets for the evening as they may become frightened with all the unfamiliar visitors to your home.
• For the adults – if you have plans to go out to celebrate, don’t drive impaired, plan ahead to ensure you have a safe ride home.
Hope you have lots of fun tonight. Be safe and share pictures with us of your little ones all dressed up. We love to see their costumes.

The MHPS Traffic Unit will be conducting an over-dimensional load escort this morning commencing at 9:30 AM. The escort will travel from 10 Ave SW to the west town limits of Redcliff, westbound on Highway #1.  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 remind motorists to obey all police officer, pilot vehicle and flag person's directions.

In August of 2019 members of the MHPS K-9 unit obtained two new Police Service Dogs (PSD’s) in anticipation of fully staffing our K-9 unit. PSD Ace and PSD Kal were selected based upon their personality traits and their natural abilities. After six weeks of training it was determined that Ace was not suited for a career of police work that the Medicine Hat Police Service has come to expect from our police service dogs.

Members of our K-9 team returned Ace to their broker at no additional cost and he will eventually be put to use in a different capacity. We were able to select another PSD for training and deployment with the Police Service. We are pleased and excited to announce our newest K-9 officer, PSD Hutch who will commence training with his handler in the near future. We are also looking forward to the numerous Starsky and Hutch references.

Media Contact

Sgt. Clarke White
403-529-1979
 

The collision scene has been cleared 

Motor Vehicle Collision at Gershaw Drive and 5th Street SW. We request that all motorists please avoid the area. Traffic is down to one lane east bound, and all west bound lanes are closed. More information will be provided when it becomes available.

The Medicine Hat Police Service wants to advise and remind residents of a travelling group of criminals that are responsible for distraction thefts.  It is possible that these persons may be operating in the Medicine Hat area today.

The following are examples of how the criminals operate:

The suspects target jewelry stores and second hand stores. Two people may enter the store, one asks to see a piece of jewelry and use sleight of hand or distraction techniques to conceal it, while the other counts or shows a large amount of cash.

People may be targeted in box store parking lots or roadways. Someone may approach offering to sell a high priced piece of jewelry for a fraction of the price due to needing gas money. The jewelry turns out to be fake and worthless.

These groups have a history of targeting people in parking lots, using distraction to steal items such as purses, phones and other valuables.

If anyone has information, regarding these types of occurrences, please contact the Medicine Hat Police Service at, 403-529-8481 or by email at CIT@mhps.ca

Sgt. Kesler 

A search of two Medicine Hat homes turned up cocaine, cash, and weapons. The searches were part of an ALERT drug trafficking investigation.

The two homes were searched on October 9, 2019 with the help of the Medicine Hat Police Service. ALERT seized 347 grams of cocaine, $37,515 cash, and various prohibited weapons, including brass knuckles and knives.

“The drug trade is an inherently violent business, and in this case the suspect was bound by a weapons prohibition,” said Staff Sgt. Kelsey Fraser, ALERT Medicine Hat.

Shane Peters was arrested leaving a residence in the North Flats area. The 34-year-old man has been charged with:

• possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking;
• possession of proceeds of crime;
• possession of a prohibited weapon; and
• breach of a court order.

ALERT’s investigation began in September 2019 when information was received about suspected drug trafficking.

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.

Media inquiries may be directed to:

Staff Sgt. Kelsey Fraser
Medicine Hat Organized Crime Team
Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT)
Ph: 403-529-7459