On June 20, RCMP were called to Lyon’s Jewellery after receiving a complaint of a suspicious man. A man, dressed in a three-piece lavender suit and fedora, entered the store and asked to see a ring valued at $6,000. Employees, feeling a funny vibe coming from the individual, phoned police who arrived at the store moments later.
The man refused to provide police with identification and while the Mountie was speaking to the employee he snuck out the front door of the store.
Later that same day, after eating a meal at Boston Pizza, the suspect stole money from the till while servers were distracted. Images from the security cam clearly show the suspect and police believe he may be driving a blue king cab truck with British Columbia plates.
The suspect is described as a man in his late 20s with thinning short black hair, black rimmed glasses and wearing a three-piece lavender suit with a fedora. Police are requesting assistance from the public to help locate the suspect.
Drunk driving suspects arrested
Police issued an impaired driving charge to a 30-year-old woman June 21. The woman was pulled over after RCMP received a call regarding a possible drunk driver west of Ponoka on Highway 53. The caller told police a vehicle was swerving across the road, narrowly missing oncoming traffic and stopping at mailboxes. The woman had a blood alcohol content of 0.22, almost three times the legal limit.
Police arrested a 39-year-old man for public intoxication in the early morning hours of June 22. After being transported to cells in Ponoka the man made threats to the guards and also threatened to puncture the tires of the police vehicles. He has since been charged with uttering threats and is due to appear in court July 15.
Driver hit by debris
On June 24 a metal log roller was thrown through a moving car’s driver side window. The driver of the car received cuts to his arm and glass was found imbedded in his arm. He was transported to hospital and the incident is still under investigation.
Hit and run of Highway 2
A hit and run was reported on Highway 2 after a van travelling south was rear ended by a red sedan. The sedan swerved into the right lane and hit the back of the van before speeding off. The accident was reported by witnesses who provided police with a license plate number. The car was located and the 24-year-old man was found impaired and also driving on a suspended license.
Slow down near Stampede Grounds
RCMP advise the speed limit on Highway 53 within town limits will be reduced during the Ponoka Stampede. The limit will be reduced to 30 km/h as the road is designated under construction and speeders are subject to fines being doubled.