Police responded to a call that a man had choked a woman to the point she almost passed out.
The call came in of a domestic dispute Sunday, Dec. 14 at 2 a.m. at a home on the 5100 block of 61 Avenue. Upon arrival, police saw a woman come out of the home where the man was seen following her.
When he was informed he was under arrest, the man told police he did not want to go to jail and they would have to shoot him instead. He returned to the home, was found in the kitchen and resisted arrest, say police. He had an odor of liquor on his breath at the time.
The 28-year-old Ponoka man was later detained despite his objections and has been charged with assault, resisting arrest and breach of conditions. There were three children in the residence at the time.
Impaired driver almost three times the limit
Drinking and driving turned out to be a bad idea for a 36-year-old Maskwacis man who was almost three times the legal limit Dec. 13.
The man provided two blood-alcohol samples of .23 and .22 after police stopped him for a burnt out headlight.
He was arrested and charged with impaired driving.
Man found with cocaine
Police arrested a 28-year-old man Dec. 14 after being found in the middle of the road on 50 Street trying to stop traffic.
He was said to be intoxicated and after a search of his person, 1 gram of cocaine was found. He was charged with possession of cocaine.
Armed robbers used truck stolen from Ponoka
An armed robbery of an Alberta Treasury Branch Dec. 19 in Winfield has some traces back to Ponoka.
Suspects left the bank in a dark blue Dodge Ram that was reported stolen earlier from Ponoka County area.
Police say male suspects brandished a handgun and directed the employees to lie on the floor. The men took an undisclosed amount of money and assaulted a bank employee.
The vehicle was later found abandoned near Usona.
Downtown bar receives fine
A downtown bar received a ticket of $230 for over-serving a 55-year-old Wetaskiwin man Tuesday, Dec. 9.
Police say the man was found in the bar passed out. When told he was getting arrested he became belligerent and started swearing at officers. He was lodged in cells until sober.
Police secure downtown streets
It took Ponoka RCMP minutes to secure an intersection in the downtown area Friday, Dec. 19 after reports of a man brandishing a gun in a downtown business.
Mounties gained entry to the building only to find an intoxicated man there. There was no gun and no danger to the public. No charges were laid.
Stunting in front of police
A man’s desire to burn rubber in front of police earned him a ticket for stunting.
Police say they witnessed a man spinning his tires in front of them for approximately 70 feet in the Southwest Industrial Park Wednesday, Dec. 17. The driver was pulled over and when asked why he burned rubber in front of the officer, he said he thought the officer wasn’t in the vehicle.
Speeder nabbed at 177 km/h
The driver of a 2011 BMW 750i found himself arrested after travelling at speeds of 177km/h on Highway 2.
The 31-year-old Edmonton driver was stopped Dec. 9.
Man found with stolen truck
The Edmonton Police Service helped arrest a man in connection with a 1997 Dodge Ram stolen out of Ponoka between Dec. 9 and 10. The 24-year-old Caroline man was found with the vehicle Dec. 10 in Edmonton.
Forgetful drunk claims injuries
Concerned motorists called police over a man found laying on the side of the road on Highway 2A south of Ponoka Dec. 9.
Upon arrival police found an intoxicated 38-year-old man who claimed he was hit in the arm by the mirror of a passing car although he appeared to have no injuries. He was lodged in cells until sober and when asked about the injury he claims to have forgotten the whole ordeal.
Maskwacis RCMP briefs
Two search warrants of a home in Maskwacis resulted in the arrest of one male and approximately one pound of marijuana.
The search was held Dec. 16 where investigators also found $350 in cash and assorted drug paraphernalia. Police charged James Small with possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking, possession of property obtained by crime and breach of recognizance.
Fatality in rollover
Emergency crews attended the scene of a rollover Dec. 17 on the Samson Cree reserve where a 51-year-old Samson man died.
A 2006 Chevy Uplander was southbound on 3 Mile Road south of Secondary Highway 611 when it entered the ditch and rolled.
The man was ejected from the vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene. There were four occupants of the vehicle and one had to be extricated by the Maskwacis Fire Department.
Police believe alcohol and wintry roads conditions may have been a factor in the rollover. The 32-year-old male driver was transported to Wetaskiwin with non life-threatening injuries.
Man charged in search warrant
A search warrant of a Montana residence Dec. 17 resulted in the arrest of a Maskwacis man.
Jordan Rabbit was charged with possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking, trafficking a controlled substance and possession of property obtained by crime after police found a small amount of marijuana, packing materials used to distribute drugs and $1,700 cash. Four people were arrested in the search.
Ponoka RCMP and the Integrated Traffic Unit handled 193 calls from Dec. 8 to 22.
If you have information on any crime, call Ponoka RCMP at 403-783-4472 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.