DNA evidence was used to identify a person who is alleged to have been involved in a serious home invasion in Red Deer six years ago.
Red Deer City RCMP Cpl. Kathe DeHeer said that police received a call at about 1:30 a.m. on March 6, 2006, about a home invasion at a residence on Kenny Close in Red Deer.
“It is alleged that two armed, masked men entered the residence while the occupants slept, looking for an individual who did not live there,” DeHeer said in a press release.
The men were alleged to be armed with a sawed-off shotgun and machete. Police say that the suspects beat and bound the occupants and robbed them of belongings, including a truck. Three victims were taken to Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre.
Police later located the stolen truck in a rural area outside of Red Deer. The Red Deer RCMP forensic identification section seized evidence from the stolen truck, along with the residence.
“Through continued investigation and forensic analysis of DNA evidence, police identified one of the persons responsible in this incident,” DeHeer said.
Red Deer City RCMP officers arrested the suspect in British Columbia on April 2.
Jason Holkko, 25, has been charged with break and enter, robbery with a firearm, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, using a weapon in the commission of an offence and theft. He was remanded in custody to appear in court on Wednesday.
Police are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying the second suspect. Call the RCMP at 403-343-5575 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
jjones@www.reddeeradvocate.com