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Ponoka teen robbed

Police are looking for a Caucasian man who allegedly robbed a 17-year-old Ponoka youth of his backpack Sept. 10 at 9 p.m.

Police are looking for a Caucasian man who allegedly robbed a 17-year-old Ponoka youth of his backpack Sept. 10 at 9 p.m.

The youth was walking along the 5400 block of 56 Avenue when a man approached him and asked for a cigarette. The suspect called himself J and later referred to himself as Josh. He attempted to sell the victim drugs and wanted to lure the youth to another location but the boy refused.

The suspect grabbed the backpack, which contained a speaker, cigarettes and a lighter. He is described as approximately 31 years old, 5 feet 8 inches tall, with black hair in a buzz cut. He has a tattoo on the back of his neck under his right ear.

Kijiji fraud

A 43-year-old Ponoka man has lost $2,300 after falling for a Kijiji cheque scam. The victim was selling a 2003 Montana for $500 and received a text Aug. 11 from the suspect saying they wanted to buy the vehicle sight unseen.

The person claimed to be from Montreal and stated they would send a cheque to the seller. He received a cheque for $3,020.11 and told the suspect it was too much. He was told to send the balance, minus $200 for his trouble, to Theresa Price in the United States.

Police say the name is most likely fictitious. The victim attempted to wait for the cheque to clear before sending the money but he received a text hurrying the victim to send the money as the buyer was in an accident and received a spinal cord injury.

He sent a money order to Price and the cheque he received subsequently bounced. Ponoka RCMP say people should not send money orders or money to a person if they are the ones selling something. Call police if there is any suspicion.

One pound of marijuana found

Ponoka RCMP have seized one pound of marijuana from a Ponoka home. After a 15-month investigation officers executed a search warrant of a property Sept. 8 at 5 p.m. on the 5000 block of 64 Avenue.

A 50-year-old Ponoka man and a woman have both been charged with possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking.

Speeding motorcyclist

Police were able to nab a motorcyclist travelling at 181 km/h on a gravel road last week.

A 45-year-old Ponoka man was charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle after being stopped on Range Road 263A Sept. 11 at 8:15 pm. after an officer was able to catch up with him on the gravel road. The posted speed limit was 60 km/h. The man faces a mandatory court appearance.

Gas and dash lessons

One Ponoka youth received a lesson in crime and punishment after neglecting to pay for $50 in fuel.

The 16-year-old boy said he did not have the money to pay for some gas Sept. 9 at 9 p.m. and would go home to get the money.

After not returning to pay, the gas station passed on the vehicle’s licence plate to police who spoke with the registered owner, the boy’s father. The outstanding bill was immediately paid and the boy’s parents then brought their son to talk with police. Officers spoke to the youth on the seriousness of crimes. There were no charges.

Crane weights hit the road

Police responded to a call of a 12,000-pound crane counterweight left on the road the morning of Sept. 12. A second 13,000-pound counterweight was found a short distance away in the ditch of Secondary Highway 815 south of Ponoka.

The first counterweight left a six-inch dent in the pavement. After some investigation police found the transportation company responsible for the weights. The company was charged with having an unsecured load. There were no injuries.

If you have any information please call Ponoka RCMP at 403- 783-4472 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.