LAC LA BICHE - A Conklin man and a Lac La Biche woman will be in Lac La Biche Provincial Court this week, facing charges stemming from an incident this past summer that caused the lockdown of a local neighbourhood after a suspected pipe-bomb was found during a traffic stop near the Al-Kareem Mosque on 99 Avenue.
Calvin Stanley Ballantyne, 39, and Suzie Amanda Cardinal, 40, were both reported to have left the scene of the August 8 traffic stop before police located a quantity of firearms and what was believed to be an explosive device in the vehicle. At the time, Janet Melissa Richards, 34, of Conklin was arrested and charged with possessing an explosive substance, transporting open liquor, driving while unauthorized, possessing a vehicle while unauthorized and two counts each of possessing dangerous weapons and unauthorized firearms.
She made her first court appearance on August 30 in relation to the charges and her court proceedings are ongoing.
Recent arrests
Lac La Biche RCMP say Ballantyne and Cardinal were recently arrested after being wanted for subsequent charges stemming from the traffic stop. They have both been remanded into custody until their court date this week.
Cardinal is facing seven charges of failing to comply with court orders, two counts of possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose, two counts of unauthorized possession of a firearm and two charges of unauthorized possession of a motor vehicle. Ballantyne is facing six charges of failing to comply with court orders, possessing an explosive substance, four counts of possession of a weapon contrary to a court order, and two counts each of unauthorized possession of a firearm, possession of a motor vehicle, and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.
RCMP didn't provide details of the explosive device, but say the Alberta RCMP's Explosive Disposal Unit did attend to dispose of the item safely.
