OLDS-INNISFAIL – Mounties from Olds and Innisfail teamed up to nab a suspected car thief hiding under a haystack.
At about 6 p.m. on Dec. 6, Olds RCMP received a report of a sighting of a Jeep that had been stolen from the Olds area the previous day.
The complainant observed the Jeep enter a ditch on Highway 587 about three kilometres west of Bowden, said Olds RCMP Staff Sgt. Jim MacDonald in a news release. He said information was also received the suspect may have been in possession of a firearm.
Police officers from the Olds and Innisfail RCMP detachments attended the area, as well as two Alberta Sheriffs, said MacDonald.
As footprints were observed in the snow leading away from the Jeep, Police Dog Services were contacted but were unavailable to immediately attend, he said.
MacDonald said police contained the area and a foot search was conducted.
He said after about an hour of searching, officers located the male suspect hiding under a haystack in a barn about three kilometres northwest of Bowden.
He said a male was arrested without incident. No firearm was located as a result of the arrest or search, said MacDonald.
He said a 20-year-old male from Calgary is facing a charge of possession of stolen property. The accused was released from custody to appear in Didsbury provincial court on Feb. 3.
Olds RCMP are asking the public's assistance for any information related to this incident. If any citizen has information he or she is asked to contact the Olds RCMP at 403-556-3323 or any local police service. If citizens wish to remain anonymous, they can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), or onlne at www.P3Tips.com
