A Red Deer man is facing drug trafficking charges after he was busted for speeding near Spruce View on July 21.
Innisfail RCMP Cpl. Don Morrish said a car was seen speeding on Highway 54 shortly after 9 p.m. The vehicle was travelling at a speed of 134 km/h in a 100-km/h zone, said Morrish.
He said an RCMP officer stopped the vehicle and when he approached he detected the scent of marijuana. The vehicle was searched and two bags of marijuana were discovered. Morrish said the weight of the total amount of marijuana was about 23 grams.
He said the police officer also discovered drug paraphernalia in the vehicle.
A 23-year-old Red Deer man was charged with possession of marijuana for the purposes of trafficking. He will make his first court appearance in Red Deer provincial court on Aug. 29.
Pine Lake woman arrested in bust
A Pine Lake woman is facing drug charges following a police raid on her cottage on July 24.
Innisfail RCMP Cpl. Don Morrish said police executed a search warrant at the Pine Lake home at around 3 p.m.
He said a quantity of crack cocaine was discovered in the cottage and a 23-year-old Pine Lake woman was arrested and charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking.
The woman will make her first court appearance in Red Deer provincial court on Aug. 29.
Red Deer men face stolen property charges
Two Red Deer men are scheduled to be in court on Aug. 13 after they were busted July 23 for being in possession of a stolen skid-steer and trailer.
Innisfail RCMP Cpl. Don Morrish said a police officer was on routine patrol at about 5:55 a.m. on Highway 42 approaching the QEII overpass near Penhold when he noticed two pickup trucks on the side of the highway.
The police officer noticed one truck backing into a flat bed trailer which was carrying a skid-steer, said Morrish.
After further investigation, it was determined that both the trailer and skid-steer had been recently stolen from a worksite near Bowden. The RCMP also recovered quantities of cash, narcotics, break-in tools and additional stolen property.
Shawn Davis Olsen, 28 and Curtis Troy Sear, 39, both of Red Deer, have been charged with possession of stolen property over $5,000 and possession of stolen property under $5,000. Olsen is also charged with possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking while Sear is now facing additional charges of breaking a court order.
The two men are scheduled to make their first court appearance in Red Deer on Aug. 13.
RCMP also report that a skid-steer valued at $23,000 was stolen near Highway 816 on July 18. Police also say another skid-steer was stolen from the Innisfail school grounds on July 25. Morrish said thieves gained entry into the construction area by cutting the locks off a fence that was securing the site. The estimated value of the skid-steer is about $20,000, said Morrish.
The RCMP is continuing its investigation into both thefts.
Lightning strikes Penhold home
Penhold Fire Department firefighters were called out to a house on July 25 after it was struck by lightning.
Shortly after 10 a.m., firefighters were dispatched to a house on Mann Drive.
Fire Chief Jim Pendergast said the house was struck between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. causing damage to the roof and the electrical panel. There were no injuries.
"A mother and young children were in the house at the time. The mother was near the front step and saw a flash and heard the sound as well as seeing a piece of the roof go flying off,” said Pendergast.
He said there was a hole in the roof with some charring along with melted electrical components.
Firefighters checked the house with a thermal imaging camera to determine if there were hot spots behind walls, said Pendergast. They also peeled back some of the shingles and checked the roof. The firefighters then put plastic over the hole until a contractor could be called.
The damage is estimated at $5,000.
Bottle thrower ordered to court
An Innisfail man got lucky he wasn't charged with throwing beer bottles at a house but he wound up being charged with violating a court order.
Innisfail RCMP Cpl. Don Morrish said Mounties responded to a call at about 2:25 a.m. on July 21 that men in an alley near 44A Street Close were throwing multiple beer bottles at a house.
When police arrived they witnessed three men leaving the scene, said Morrish.
He said one man was captured after a short foot chase.
A 32-year-old man was arrested and lodged in police cells, said Morrish.
He said the homeowner declined to press charges but the man was charged by police for failing to comply with a court order.
