Two people have been arrested and charged by RCMP after witnesses reported suspicious activity.
Rimbey RCMP state in a press release that Leta Owen, 33, of Rimbey, and Bill Okeynan, 28, of Ponoka County, were allegedly in possession of stolen property Aug. 21. RCMP attended the scene and subsequently arrested the individuals.
Owen was charged with six counts of possession of property under $5,000 and one count of possession of property over $5,000. Owen also charged with six counts of failing to comply with a probation order.
Okeynan was charged with eight counts of possession of property under $5,000 and two counts of possession over $5,000. He is also charged with four counts of failing to comply with a probation order and two counts of unauthorized possession of a firearm.
Police say both subjects failed to attend court the first time and were again arrested.
“Both subjects were charged with ‘fail to comply with a Probation Order’ as a result of the RCMP conducting checks to ensure Owen and Okeynan were complying with court imposed conditions,” say police.
Owen has been released with a promise to appear on Nov. 3 in Rimbey. Okeynan is remanded in custody and will appear in Rimbey court Oct. 6.
Several pieces of property were successfully returned to their owners, say RCMP, including two vehicles, a dirt bike, generators, chainsaws and a travel trailer.
The Rimbey RCMP executed search warrants at Okeynan’s property and several (believed) stolen items were seized, including a compressor, welder, hand tools, slip tank and other commercial/industrial tools. The RCMP are working to identify owners of some of the remainder of this property in order to return it.
“This is an example of the great collaboration between alert community members and the RCMP,” said Sgt. Kurtis Pillipow, Rimbey RCMP detachment commander. “Advising the police when you see suspicious activity can help lead us to successful and safe outcomes.”
These charges are before the courts and further information will not be provided. Investigation into the stolen property remains ongoing.