A man charged with second-degree murder in Calgary was located and arrested after a carjacking and home invasion near Ponoka.
Investigations into the death of Calgary resident Christa Cachene on Oct. 11 led to Calgary Police charging Isaiah Riel Rider with second-degree murder who was located in Maskwacis. The events leading up to his arraignment involve a car jacking on Highway 2 south of Ponoka at 3:40 a.m. on Friday morning. Police say there were five occupants in a stolen SUV that was in the median when some of those passengers forcibly removed three individuals from a Honda Civic.
A 19-year-old woman was located and arrested nearby by officers. Approximately two hours later, Ponoka residents had their home broken into and were threatened with a pipe and forced to give up their Jeep Cherokee and an undisclosed amount of money to the suspects.
Along with the 19-year-old woman, police were able to arrest an 18-year-old man and 17-year-old girl near the invaded Ponoka home. It is believed the victims were seniors. Ponoka RCMP notified nearby detachments to be on the lookout for the Jeep and remaining two suspects. A short time later, Maskwacis RCMP reported witnessing the Jeep travelling at high speed on the reserve. A spike belt was deployed and the Jeep came to rest just as it entered the Ermineskin reserve, say police.
A 17-year-old girl was arrested and a male suspect fled on foot. At that point, RCMP detachments, police dog services, RCMP air service conducted a wide scale search with the assistance of Maskwacis residents. Upon receipt of a tip, the man, later identified as Rider, was located and arrested without incident.
Both stolen vehicles were recovered as well as a firearm. It is unclear if the firearm has any relation to the Calgary homicide investigation, what type of firearm it is or which vehicle it was in. Police say the three victims of the alleged carjacking were taken to the Ponoka Hospital and Care Centre where they were treated and released.
Rider is remanded in custody and faces 18 charges. Two youths have received multiple charges while Lesa Okeynan of Calgary was charged with eight offences. Allan Rain also faces 11 charges. All five are expected in court Friday, Oct. 30.
Rider was being held in Maskwacis and is expected to be transferred to the Calgary Police Service and investigators say further criminal charges are pending.
Dangerous driver nabbed:
Members of the Ponoka Integrated Traffic Unit were conducting radar patrols Monday, Oct. 19 at 10:30 p.m. on Highway 2 when one officer tagged one driver at speeds in excess of 220 km/h. The officer attempted to catch up with the motorist and was almost hit by a second vehicle that appeared to be racing the first.
The officer worked to catch up with the vehicle, a 2003 Nissan Maxima, and then clocked the driver at 186 km/h before he sped up. Emergency lights were activated and the motorist, a 28-year-old Edmonton driver, is reported to have braked and then turned into the east ditch about 2 kms south of the Bear Hills rest stop.
Officers charged the motorist with dangerous driving, obstructing a peace officer, possessing false documents - the man had someone else’s driver’s licence and had insurance paperwork that was altered - and having no insurance.
Abandoned vehicle burned:
Police responded to a call of an abandoned vehicle on Range Road 255 on Oct. 20 at 10 a.m.
The caller said the vehicle appeared to be burned and was still smoking at the time the call was made. By the time RCMP arrived, the car was completely burnt. The registered owner of the vehicle was notified.
Home broken into:
Police are investigating an incident where a home was broken into Oct. 20 in the afternoon.
Suspects entered the home by prying open the door to gain entry and had ransacked the home, stole some property and went through the homeowner’s refrigerator, leaving a mess of thawed soup on the floor. The matter is under investigation.
Heavy equipment stolen:
Approximately $80,000 worth of equipment was stolen from a property along Highway 2A.
A Bobcat, mat grapple and pulsar cutter were taken from the yard and have since been recovered by the Sylvan Lake RCMP. The matter is under investigation.
Surprised motorist with warrants:
A motorist stopped at an intersection with nothing to indicate a need to stop appeared surprised when she saw a police officer nearby Oct. 21.
The officer subsequently stopped the vehicle and made a query of the driver. It turned out she was wanted on outstanding warrants as was the passenger. She was arrested on those warrants and the passenger was arrested for a breach of recognizance.