A stolen fuel card led RCMP investigators to a trove of property, including fuel, laptops, outboard motors and even a large brewery fermenter.
Police were alerted on Nov. 13 that a fuel card was stolen from a local drywall company and used the same day to buy 1,500 litres of diesel.
RCMP identified a suspect from surveillance video.
Officers were familiar with the suspect from previous investigations, said Red Deer RCMP Staff Sgt. Jeff McBeth on Friday.
On Nov. 14, Mountview residents complained about a strong smell of diesel coming from a residential yard and garage. Police were called in and arrested the suspect for possession of the stolen diesel.
“It is believed that the male involved in these incidents was selling the stolen fuel in exchange for stolen property and operating this business out of a garage,” said McBeth.
All 1,500 litres were recovered. It had been stored in various fuel tanks and other containers.
RCMP were back at the home on Nov. 15 with a search warrant and found drugs, stolen identification, new outboard boat motors stolen from a sports shop and a large stainless steel fermenter swiped from Ponoka’s Siding 14 Brewery.
The stolen property was worth more than $10,000.
At first, police were not able to find the suspect, who had been released on bail following his arrest the previous day.
He was scooped up on Dec. 11 during a “warrant round-up,” said police. The suspect was arrested at home in a stolen truck.
A 45-gallon drum of agriculture purple gas, hooked up to a battery, pump and hose was found in the garage.
More stolen property was found the following day, including three self-contained breathing apparatuses, two chainsaws and other tools believed to have been stolen from area oilfield businesses.
Cpl. Matthew Strader said the gasoline storage posed a danger to neighbours.
Adam Wade Bogusky, 35, of Red Deer, is facing about two dozen charges, including 11 charges of possession of property obtained by crime.
Bogusky was again released on bail and is next due in Red Deer provincial court on Jan. 9.
Charges were also laid under the province’s dangerous goods legislation under the Alberta Fuel Tax Act.
“This is a unique investigation in that there was a charge laid under the Alberta Tax Act, not a common occurrence in our investigations,” said McBeth.
pcowley@reddeeradvocate.com
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