PONOKA NEWS STAFF
The Ponoka RCMP responded to numerous complaints of break and entry to vehicles over the weekend plus thefts from homes.
The RCMP are urging residents to take any valuables out of their vehicles and lock the doors, however, it appears culprits have managed to gain access to the vehicles regardless of if they are locked or not.
A theft at one home resulted in a handgun being taken
Sometime between the hours of 7:15 a.m. and 7:20 p.m. on Thursday, June 16 unknown suspects broke into a residence on 56 Avenue and stole a Ruger handgun. The file is currently under investigation.
Suspicious activity
Police are looking into a suspicious incident June 7 at 7 p.m. after an unknown male driver threw out bags of candy to kids near a soccer field on 61 Avenue.
Two youths were at the soccer field when a man in a camouflaged colored jeep pulled up and threw out candies in Ziploc bags. The youths did not eat any of the candy. Description of the suspect is as follows: Caucasian man, approximately 30 years of age wearing a grey shirt with dark blue sweat pants, grey hair, beard and wearing sunglasses. The file is currently under investigation.
Tailgate stolen
Ponoka RCMP responded to a complaint of a tailgate stolen off of a vehicle on a property located along Highway 792 on June 9. The offence occurred sometime during the night. The suspects went through the vehicle, but nothing else was taken. File is currently under investigation.
License plate switched
The Ponoka Integrated Traffic Unit was patrolling on Highway 2 June 11 in the southbound lanes near Highway 604 when the officer noted that an expired plate attached to the vehicle. When a vehicle registration check was conducted it was noted that the plate was on the wrong vehicle. The driver appeared surprised and produced valid documents for the vehicle that he was driving. Someone had switched the plates on his vehicle. The expired plate that was put on his vehicle was stolen out of Red Deer earlier that day. The file is currently under investigation
Stolen vehicle recovered
With help from a Ponoka County employee June 9, police were able to recover a vehicle reported stolen out of Bashaw.
The vehicle was parked on a rural road and when RCMP attended the scene it was clear that the vehicle had been parked there for a few days and left abandoned. The ignition was heavily damaged and many items were scattered throughout the vehicle. The file is currently under investigation.
Driver nabbed with restricted licence
Ponoka RCMP, during routine patrol, noticed a vehicle that failed to stop at a stop sign.
A traffic stop was subsequently conducted and it was found that the driver, a 32-year-old man from Ponoka, had a restricted driver’s licence that only allowed him to drive with a blow box on his vehicle. The vehicle that he was driving did not have a blow box, therefore his licence was suspended resulting from a past impaired driving matter. The driver was detained.
Driver falls asleep at wheel
Members of the Ponoka Integrated Traffic Unit responded to a vehicle rollover June 18 at 10 a.m. on Highway 2 about 5 km north of Ponoka.
Police observed a black four door car on its roof in the west ditch. Tire marks were visible on the roadway leading up to the crash. The driver admitted to falling asleep at the wheel and was transported via ambulance to the Ponoka hospital. The driver was issued a ticket for fail to drive in center of traffic lane, and was warned about driving while fatigued.
Maskwacis RCMP arrest man after barricaded incident
A Maskwacis man has several firearms charges against him after a barricade incident on Friday, June 17 at approximately 3:30 a.m.
Brandon Simon of Maskwacis faces two counts of pointing a firearm, being in possession of a firearm dangerous to the public, two counts of discharging a firearm with intent to endanger life plus several other charges stemming from firearm-related offenses.
The incident involved a call to police that an intoxicated man had a firearm in Maskwacis on June 17. At the time police say two shots were fired in their direction. The scene was immediately contained and the emergency response team, dog services, Maskwacis RCMP and RCMP air services were called to assist.
At about 9:15 a.m. the man exited the home and a short time later two other men were taken into custody. No one was injured in the incident.
Simon has been remanded in custody pending a court appearance in Wetaskiwin on June 21.
If you have information on these files, please call the Ponoka RCMP at 403-783-4472. If you want to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers by phone at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), or by internet at www.tipsubmit.com. You do not have to reveal your identity to Crime Stoppers, and if you provide information to Crime Stoppers that leads to an arrest(s), you may be eligible for a cash reward.