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RCMP, Lacombe Police seize loaded guns, arrest four people

Four people have been arrested and multiple prohibited firearms are off the streets in central Alberta in connection to an investigation.
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Three weapons have been seized and four people are facing charges following a police operation in central Alberta. (Photo contributed by RCMP)

Four people have been arrested and multiple prohibited firearms are off the streets in central Alberta in connection to an investigation.

Lacombe Police recently reached out to the RCMP’s Central Alberta District Crime Reduction Unit and asked for assistance relating to a property.

RCMP say the property has been identified as “problematic” and associated to criminal activity.

“Community complaints included concerns about property offences and suspicious activity,” a RCMP press release said on Friday.

On Wednesday, police conducted a traffic stop in a parking lot of a local business and arrested three people inside a truck that was associated to the property in Lacombe.

The truck was confirmed to be previously stolen out of Saskatoon. Police searched the truck and seized two loaded SKS semi-automatic rifles with attached high capacity prohibited magazines, a loaded sawed-off shotgun, ammunition, stolen license plates, break-and-enter tools, and a small amount of methamphetamine.

The property representative was also arrested and taken into custody for possession of stolen property.

Two of the people arrested in the truck were bound by multiple release orders and were breaching several conditions relating to outstanding charges. They were also subject to multiple firearm prohibitions.

The four people arrested face a total of 116 charges.

Justin Michael Gulbis, 28, and Taylor Michael Phelan, 34, were held in custody for a judicial interim release hearing. Gulbis was scheduled to appear in Red Deer Provincial Court on Friday, while Phelan is scheduled to appear on Monday.

The other two accused were released from police custody and are scheduled to appear in Red Deer Provincial Court on Feb. 10.

“These four offenders have been active in both Lacombe and RCMP jurisdictions, and it’s always our goal to remove firearms from the wrong hands,” said Cpl. Will Hiscock, with Central Alberta District Crime Reduction Unit.



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