Red Deer RCMP executed 83 warrants this week with a focus on serious offences and habitual offenders who regularly fail to show up for court.
“There were some people with serious aggravated assault charges so they had caused some significant bodily harm in the past. They were definitely dangerous,” said Red Deer RCMP Insp. Gerald Grobmeier on Friday.
Police were also after some very prolific thieves who steal vehicles and refuse to stop for police, he said.
“Theft of motor vehicles can sometimes be the most dangerous calls we have.”
Between Monday and Thursday police checked 199 people or residences which resulted in:
- 36 arrests
- 117 charges
“These people will hopefully be required to go to court and deal with these matters which will then give the opportunity for the victims of these crimes to have a bit of closure,” Grobmeier said.
Other spinoffs from the sweep included the recovery of a stolen vehicle, and the seizure of a sawed-off shotgun and break and enter tools.
A total of 127 warrants were on the books and 44 were cleared because people had either moved away, were in jail elsewhere for other offences or deceased.
The effort required a team of about 14 people that included members from Red Deer’s Community Response Unit, GIS, general duty, and support from municipal staff members including criminal analysts and watch clerks.
Police Dog Services and the RCMP helicopter were also available. Grobmeier said he wasn’t aware of them being required.
In addition to executing the warrants, a lot of background work was done prior to this week to prepare.
Grobmeier said it was a resource-heavy initiative and the detachment’s first warrant round-up since he arrived in September 2015.
“We’ll be looking at doing it more often.”
RCMP encourage people with outstanding warrants are to turn themselves in at the downtown detachment to avoid the embarrassment and inconvenience of being arrested publicly by police.
szielinski@www.reddeeradvocate.com