Eight suspects were arrested and six stolen vehicles recovered in a Red Deer RCMP-led auto theft operation earlier this month.
The arrests were made after Red Deer RCMP conducted a Tactical Response to Auto Theft Prevention (TRAP) operation from Jan. 8-10 in the city. Members of the Red Deer RCMP Crime Reduction Team were joined by members from Sylvan Lake GIS, Innisfail GIS, Rocky Mountain House GIS and Blackfalds GIS.
Police laid 26 Criminal Code charges, including property, weapons and drug charges. Another eight Traffic Safety charges were laid. Three suspects wanted on outstanding warrants were among those arrested and are facing 13 Criminal Code charges. Two of those arrested were on parole for unrelated matters and their parole was revoked immediately, said police.
“Our Crime Reduction Team continues to see success from TRAP operations in locating stolen vehicles and apprehending criminals while averting public safety risks involved when criminals attempt to flee,” says Red Deer RCMP Insp. Gerald Grobmeier.
“The success of each operation continues to send an important message to repeat offenders.”
Arrests and charges during the operation include:
•Curtis Lewis and Somer El-Majzoub were arrested in a stolen truck. Lewis is charged with possession of stolen property over $5000. El-Majzoub faces charges of possession of stolen property over $5000, possession of a prohibited weapon and two counts of possession of a controlled substance. Lewis and El-Majzoub are scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 23.
•Harvey Lee-Bernick and Darryl Boyce were also arrested after being found in a stolen truck. Lee-Bernick was driving the vehicle and faces charges of possession of stolen property over $5000, one count of operation of a motor vehicle while prohibited and six counts of failing to comply with bail conditions. Lee-Bernick is scheduled to appear in court on February 4.
Boyce faces charges including two counts of breach of probation, possession of a prohibited weapon and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose. He is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 30.
•Chantel Christopher was arrested and faces charges of possession of stolen property over $5000, possession of stolen property under $5000, and possession of a controlled substance. She was scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 17 but failed to attend and is now wanted on warrants.
•Brandon Loughlin was arrested and charged with possession of stolen property under $5000, possession of break-in instruments, resisting arrest, two counts of failing to comply with bail conditions, and possession of a controlled substance. His court date is Jan. 28.