A woman was assaulted, had her belongings stolen, after three suspects smashed her car windows while she was sitting in the car in central Alberta Wednesday evening.
Ponoka RCMP, with the assistance of Police Dog Services (PDS), took three men into custody early Thursday, following a report of the robbery late Wednesday at a parking lot on 54 Street in town.
At 10:45 p.m., the Ponoka RCMP received a 911 call reporting that a female victim was assaulted and had her car and personal items stolen.
The RCMP attended the incident location and determined that three unknown male suspects produced a machete and smashed the victim’s car window while she was sitting in the car. The men took cash and items from the victim, assaulted her, demanded her car keys and started to drive away. When a helpful citizen intervened by yelling, the men fled on foot, leaving the stolen car behind.
Police Dog Services (PDS) attended and an initial track did not lead to the male suspects. Ponoka RCMP members continued to patrol the area. At 12:30 a.m., the RCMP located the suspects in Centennial Park. The males again fled on foot, but the concentration of RCMP members in the area and the quick response by PDS led to the capture and arrest of the three suspects.
Cole Gerald Cattleman (23) of Samson First Nation and Anthony Saddleback (32) of Montana First Nation are jointly charged with six criminal charges including robbery with a weapon, assault with a weapon and theft. Each accused is also facing two other charges relating to breaches.
The third suspect – a 13-year-old male youth is facing seven criminal charges. He has been released on an undertaking to attend youth court.
Judicial interim release hearings have been held and Saddleback has been released with conditions. He is scheduled to appear in court in Ponoka on Jan. 15, 2021. Cattleman is scheduled to appear on Dec. 22, 2020 in Wetaskiwin Provincial Court.
“This event was another great example where timely and pertinent assistance provided by the public supported our officers” says Sgt. Erin St-Cyr of Ponoka RCMP. “Information and surveillance video enabled our members to locate and apprehend these three male suspects before the situation escalated or evolved into something with a far more dire outcome.”
mamta.lulla@reddeeradvocate.com
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