Ponoka RCMP are on the lookout for a man who attempted to abduct a child by luring her into his car last week.
Police say a 10-year-old girl was walking from the Ponoka Elementary School to the Ponoka Youth Centre just after school ended Thursday Dec. 4. A Caucasian male in his 30s walked up to the girl offering candy to her if she followed him.
The girl then ran to the Youth Centre after noticing the man walking towards her. Police say the man was wearing a green toque with black jacket and jeans and had a moustache. Police have provided a composite drawing of the suspect.
Youth Centre executive director, Beth Reitz, said they are working with all Ponoka schools on this issue. “The safety of our youth is of utmost importance to the Ponoka Youth Centre. We are actively working with Wolf Creek School Division, St. Augustine School, RCMP and parents of our youths to ensure the safety of the children in our community.”
Wolf Creek Public Schools said in a press release in relation to the incident that teachers would be reviewing with their students the importance of “stranger safety” and appealed to all parents to do the same.
Driver at three times legal limit
Police have charged a 42-year-old Red Deer woman with impaired driving after providing two blood-alcohol samples of .24 and .23.
She was stopped on Highway 2A south of Ponoka after officers witnessed her driving erratically and weaving in and out of lanes Dec. 3 at 11 p.m. She is reported to have been travelling at 60 km/h in a 100km/h zone.
Man arrested with pellet pistol
Witnesses helped identify a man who brandished, what looked like a gun, Dec. 5 at 10:20 p.m. in Ponoka.
After providing a description of the suspect, officers were able to locate and arrest a 19-year-old Red Deer man who had a pellet pistol in his possession. He was charged with possession of imitation of a weapon dangerous for public peace.
Police find marijuana in rollover
Emergency crews attended the scene of a rollover on Highway 2 Dec. 6 at 5 a.m. where marijuana was found in the vehicle.
As police were talking with a 56-year-old Edmonton man involved the collision, he asked the Mountie to grab his cell phone from his pickup.
Police searching for a suspect attempting to abduct a child While the officer didn’t find the cell phone, he did find a 56 grams bag of marijuana instead. The man was charged with possession of a controlled substance.
Stolen vehicle recovered
A person driving a stolen vehicle may be regretting that decision.
Police have charged a 29-year-old Morinville man with possession of stolen property last week after finding he was using the vehicle. It was found parked behind the Oasis Motel where investigations led to the arrest of the man.
Break and enter
Police are looking for culprits involved in a break and enter Dec. 7 just north of Ponoka.
Among the items stolen were several large swords as well as a computer and some jewelry.
Check Stops
Enhanced Check Stops last weekend netted several impaired and suspended drivers.
One driver, a 29-year-old man from Ponoka, was stopped near Baker Road Dec. 5 where he provided two blood-alcohol samples of .23 and .20.
A suspended driver, a 28-year-old Maskwacis man, had his car towed after officers found open liquor in his vehicle. He provided a caution on his roadside breath test.
Although the man had a driver’s licence, it was of a different person who looked similar. It was passengers in the vehicle who accidentally called the driver by his real name who helped alert police to the situation.
Car stolen
The owner of a 2004 Chevy Silverado may be regretting leaving his vehicle running last week after it was stolen from the Ponoka Hospital and Care Centre.
The owner parked the truck with the keys in the ignition and the vehicle running Tuesday, Dec. 2 where it was subsequently taken. The matter is under investigation.
Water break in home causes major damage
A water line break in a home on Chicken Hill has caused severe damage to the building.
Police were called to check on the home after neighbours could hear running water that sounded similar to a waterfall.
It is believed the water leaked for some days. Police had to get town employees to turn off the utilities as the homeowner was unreachable.