An RCMP helicopter helped track an erratic driver to his home where he was arrested last week.
Police said that on June 7, a 28-year-old Red Deer suspect was found driving a vehicle with a licence plate that had been reported stolen.
Due to the suspect’s erratic driving, the RCMP Air Services was called in and kept the vehicle in sight until it stopped at a residence. Police moved in and arrested a suspect without incident.
The suspect has been charged with possession of stolen property under $5,000, driving while unauthorized, driving a motor vehicle without registration and driving an uninsured vehicle. He was released from custody and is scheduled to appear in the Red Deer Provincial Court on Aug. 9
Red Deer RCMP continue to investigate other related incidents involving this vehicle.
Later in the week, a 23-year-old Red Deer suspect was also found driving a vehicle with a stolen licence plate. The suspect, who had 22 outstanding warrants for his arrest, was taken into custody by the Emergency Response Team without incident.
Police seized two loaded guns, modified and/or restricted weapon magazines, 77.9 grams of methamphetamine, 100 mL of GHB (date rape drug), drug paraphernalia and $800 in cash.
The suspect has been charged with possession for the purposes of trafficking, possession of a controlled substance, possession of a restricted/prohibited weapon, knowingly possessing a firearm without a licence and two counts each of possession of a restricted/prohibited device, possessing firearms without a licence, unsafe storage of a firearm and failing to comply with a release order.
The suspect remains in custody and is due in Red Deer Provincial Court on June 16.
The busts came out of a Tactical Response to Auto Theft Prevention (TRAP) project aimed at curbing vehicle thefts that ran from June 7 to 10 in Red Deer.
Members of the Red Deer RCMP Crime Reduction Team were joined by officers from Sylvan Lake, Blackfalds and Innisfail detachments, the Emergency Response Team, Police Dog Services and RCMP Air Services.
“Our Crime Reduction Team continues to see success from strategic operations, such as TRAP, designed to target criminals while ensuring public safety,” says Red Deer RCMP Supt. Holly Glassford.
“The ability to have an increased police presence and the use of a helicopter assists in our priority to apprehend repeat offenders of motor vehicle theft.”