UPDATE — RCMP working with the specialized Eastern Alberta District Crime Reduction Unit and he Cold Lake Police Dog Services found the alleged suspect of the Beaverhill liquor store robbery hiding in the attic of a home in Kikino.
According to a police release issued to the POST today, the day after last , a joint operation was conducted by the Lac La Biche RCMP, Eastern Alberta District Rural Crime Reduction Unit (EADRCRU), and Cold Lake Police Dog Services (PDS) to locate and apprehend the wanted male. The joint operation spanned a large area of Lac La Biche County and led RCMP members to locating and recovering a vehicle stolen from Kikino that had been used in the commission of the armed robbery.
We will continue to track down and arrest violent offenders, no matter how hard they run or where they try to hide.” RCMP Const. Guillaume Wilson (EADCRU)
EADRCRU members were able to track the male to a residence in Kikino and all occupants of the house were evacuated. A warrant to enter the dwelling house was obtained and the male, who had been hiding in the attic of the residence, surrendered and was arrested by RCMP. RCMP members searched the attic area where the accused had been hiding and recovered items that had been stolen during the armed robbery in Lac La Biche the day before.
“With the threats exhibited by the offender during this robbery, it immediately became a priority for us to track him down”, said Cst. Guillaume Wilson (EADRCRU). “We will continue to track down and arrest violent offenders, no matter how hard they run or where they try to hide.”
Dusty Hardy (24) of Kikino was charged with multiple offences, which include:Robbery with a firearm
- Using a firearm in the commission of an offence
- Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose
- Carrying a concealed weapon
- Possession of a prohibited firearm
- Failing to comply with a recognizance
- Failing to comply with a probation order
- Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000
- Possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000 (X4)
He was held in custody following a bail hearing and is scheduled to appear in court on April 1, 2019 in Lac La Biche.
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Last Tuesday and Wednesday were busy shifts for Lac La Biche RCMP and local peace officers. A robbery, a drug and weapons bust, vehicle thefts and a biting booze thief all drew police responses in a 36-hour period.
One of those response was with guns drawn, according to several witnesses to last Wednesday night's arrest of two men in a black Jeep Wrangler behind the La Biche Inn. Callers to the POST said they saw police with assault rifles and sidearms drawn as a vehicle was surrounded by police cars at about 6 pm. on March 20. Witnesses also say a police dog unit was also at the scene as well as an ambulance.
Lac La BIche RCMP have yet to issue a formal news release about the incident, but have confirmed that two local men, one 25 and the other 29, were arrested in connection to the incident. A quantity of items believed to be narcotics and an assault rifle were reportedly found in the vehicle. Lac La Biche RCMP Corp. Roxanne Generoux says more information will be released once officials charges are laid. Both men have been reportedly held in custody.
An hour before that police response, an alarm was triggered at the liquor store at the new Shell fuel station on Beaverhill Road. Police say a man entered the store holding a firearm. He left the store with an undisclosed amount of alcohol. RCMP say the man left in a silver Jeep Liberty. Police say the suspect is known to them and a woman is also believed to be connected to the incident. The investigation is continuing. No one was physically harmed in the incident.
A liquor store clerk was injured in a grab and dash theft the night before. RCMP say that at about 10:45 pm., a woman entered Lindy Lou's Liquor Store in the La Biche Inn and attempted to run from the store with a bottle of alcohol. The clerk chased the suspect and caught her a few steps from the door, but the suspect big the clerk's arm and escaped.
Police say the injuries were not significant and they have information on the suspect as they continue to investigate.
Vehicle thefts
RCMP are also investigating a vehicle theft that happened a few hours later from the parking lot behind Gail Broadbent's accounting offices. Police say the owners of a black subaru heard their vehicle leaving the parking lot as they were inside the building. They chased the vehicle, forcing it to stop in the Squirrely's parking lot. As the owners and others approached the driver, he jumped out the passenger side of the vehicle and ran towards another vehicle in the parking lot. The suspect got inside the other vehicle, but couldn't get it started and ran away.
Again, police have an idea of who the suspect is, and are continuing their investigation.
The owner of a 2016 blue Ford F-150 wasn't so lucky earlier on Tuesday as he came out of his downtown office at lunchtime to find his truck had been stolen. Police say the owner had left the keys inside the truck and left it unlocked for just moments as he went back inside his business.
RCMP are asking the public to be on the lookout for the truck with Alberta license plate NYV 6694.
The public was watching just a few blocks away as the driver of a red car drove up onto the sidewalk and into the front doors of the Flashing Cow restaurant on Main Street during the same lunch hour. The smash resulted in extensive damage to the front doors of the business. Police say the driver got his foot stuck between the accelerator pedal and the brake as he was pulling into the parking stall in front of the building. No charges have been laid and no one was injured.
"It was a very busy few days, " said Generoux.
Despite the mid-week spike, the total of files for the week tallied the average activity of about 150 calls.
