A 911 report of a suspicious and possibly stolen van led the Ponoka RCMP to intercept an associated suspicious vehicle and make an arrest.
Ponoka RCMP received a call about an abandoned van at 12:44 a.m. on March 23, 2021. The report made was that suspects left the van behind in a parking lot and departed in a newer silver car.
RCMP located the silver car on Highway 53 and a traffic stop was initiated without issue.
Information led to an occupant of the car being arrested for possession of stolen property. A search of the male led to the recovery of methamphetamine, shotgun shells, and a large knife which he had strapped to his torso.
The abandoned van was determined to be previously stolen out of Edmonton.
James Marc Stempien, 26, has been charged with possession of stolen property, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, and carrying a concealed weapon.
Stempien has been released on conditions to appear in Ponoka Provincial Court on April 23, 2021.
The Ponoka RCMP want to thank the public for being alert to activities in the community and reporting suspicious events.