From Ponoka RCMP

Busy Close to the Weekend for the Ponoka RCMP

Ponoka RCMP dealt with a variety of calls for service which included 4 adults (3 Females and 1 male) who are now facing numerous criminal charges in relation to separate incidents that occurred on Sunday, September 23^rd, 2018.

It began Sunday afternoon at 4:00 p.m. when members of the Ponoka RCMP started receiving complaints from the public that a railway maintenance truck was stolen as it was being fueled up.  The truck ripped the gas hose from the pump and sped away almost hitting two vehicles.

At 4:04 p.m. that same evening, a 911 call was received from a rural resident who was reporting that a female had shown up on his property with a railway maintenance truck and that the truck is now stuck.  When the property owner approached the female he noticed that a gas station pump hose was hanging from the vehicle.  The female got out of the truck and attempted to stab the property owner with a screwdriver but was unsuccessful and she fled the property on foot.  As the RCMP members were arriving on scene, they observed the female leaving in a truck that she had stolen from the neighboring property.  Assistance was requested from the Maskwacis RCMP, the Ponoka Integrated Traffic Unit, the Wetaskiwin RCMP, and the Wetaskiwin Integrated Traffic Unit and a police pursuit was started.  A short time later, the female lost control of the truck and fled from the vehicle on foot.  Wetaskiwin Police Dog Services attended the area and was able to successfully locate the female trying to hide up a tree.

The 30-year-old female (of no fixed address) had a bail hearing where she was ordered to remain in custody until her first court appearance in Ponoka Provincial Court on September 28^th, 2018, at 9:30 a.m.  She has been charged with:

• Fail to Comply with Probation.
• Dangerous Operation of a motor vehicle.
• 2 counts of Theft of a Truck.
• Assault with a Weapon.
• Mischief Under $5000.
• Impaired Operation (by a drug) of a Motor Vehicle.
• Fail to Comply with a Physical Coordination Demand
• Flight from Police
• Driving While Disqualified.

Shortly after midnight, the Ponoka RCMP responded to a call of a disturbance at a residence where a male was assaulting the occupants.  When police arrived, the 40-year-old male attempted to fight with police and was arrested with the use of a conducted energy weapon (Taser).  Investigation by police revealed that a 38-year-old female in the residence had also assaulted an occupant and this lead to her arrest as well.  The female was later released on a Promise to Appear in Ponoka Provincial Court on November 9^th, 2018, at 9:30 a.m.

After a Bail Hearing, the 38-year-old male was ordered to remain in custody until his first appearance in Ponoka court on September 28^th, 2018, at 9:30 a.m.  He has been charged with:

• Assault.
• Uttering Threats.
• Assaulting a Police Office.

Approximately one hour after this event, the Ponoka RCMP were dispatched to a white Honda Accord that was reported to be travelling southbound through Ponoka and was swerving all over the road, driving on the curbs, not stopping for stop signs, and driving with no lights on.  While police were on their way to this they received another call saying that the vehicle had stopped and the female driver opened the door and fell to the ground.  Ponoka RCMP members arrived on scene and picked her up. The 36-year-old female from Airdrie, Alberta, was released on a Promise to Appear in Ponoka court on November 9^th, 2018, at 9:30 a.m.  She is charged with:

• Impaired Operation (by alcohol) of a Motor Vehicle.
• Refuse to Provide a Breath Sample.

Although there are days like these, the Ponoka Detachment advises that data shows that the RCMP Crime Reduction Strategy is working. From January to July of this year, property crimes in all RCMP detachments is down nine percent compared to the same period last year. In rural detachments, it is down 11 percent. That means, as of July this year, 648 fewer cars have been stolen and 366 fewer homes have been broken into.