ARTICLES

The Medicine Hat Police Service (MHPS) and City of Medicine Hat are warning residents of a fraudulent scam that is circulating in the community.

A local business owner recently reported to the MHPS that they had received a call from an unknown person claiming to be an employee of the City of Medicine Hat. The caller advised that the business owner that the utilities were going to be disconnected due to lack of payment and directed that payment for the “overdue” amount was required via Bitcoin. The victim was also provided a 1-800 number to call which was directed to a false City of Medicine Hat voicemail system with several prompts for various City departments.

Residents are reminded that the City of Medicine Hat does not accept Bitcoin as a form of payment.  If you receive a suspicious, and unprompted phone call regarding your utilities, do not engage with the caller and just hang up.  If you have questions regarding your City of Medicine Hat Utility account, you can contact the department directly at 403-529-8111.

Anyone who has fallen victim to this scam, and has not already reported it to police, is asked to contact the MHPS at 403-529-8481.

Media Contact:

Insp. Brent Secondiak
Operational Services Division
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 403-529-8416

The Medicine Hat Police Service is seeking public assistance to further the investigation into a recent theft of electrical wire.  During the early morning hours of May 27, 2024, two unknown persons attended to a compound of an electrical company in the southwest quadrant of the city. Once at the location, the suspects damage the compound and stole a large amount of electrical wire. The suspects appear to be operating a white, two door, older model F-150 with a 4x4 logo on the rear side.

The investigation is ongoing and the MHPS is requesting anyone with information that could assist the investigation to call 403-529-8481. Tips can also be submitted, anonymously if preferred, via the MHPS website (mhps.ca) or mobile app. The app is free to download and is available for both Android and Apple devices.

S/Sgt Rod Thompson
Patrol Section
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 403-529-8461

Please be advised that on May 31, 2024, at 9:30 AM the Medicine Hat Police Service Traffic Unit, along with other emergency service providers, will be participating in a mock motor vehicle collision exercise that will be staged on the grounds of the Medicine Hat College.

The exercise is being coordinated by the Alberta Health Services Prevent Alcohol and Risk-Related Trauma in Youth (PARTY) Program and local Grade 9 students will be attending. The PARTY program’s goal is to give students information about trauma to enable them to identify potential injury-producing situations, make prevention-oriented choices and adopt less-risky behaviors. Please avoid the area, if possible, to ensure that emergency vehicles will have easy access to the mock scenario as required.

Thank you!

For more information contact:

Sgt. Stacey Fishley
Traffic Unit
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 403-529-8471

On May 26, 2024, the Medicine Hat Police (MHPS) responded to a firearms complaint reported at a business located in the 100 block of 1^st Street SE.  An employee at the location had asked a male to the leave the business as he had previously been banned from entering by staff.  The man left but later returned to the store and pointed a handgun, or facsimile at the staff member.

MHPS Patrol members quickly responded and set up containment around the area, which led to the arrest of the male.

As a result, Brandon Webb (32 years old), of Medicine Hat, AB has been charged with the following Criminal Code offences:

• Assault with a weapon
• Threats to cause death or bodily harm
• Mischief causing damage under $5,000
• Disobey a firearms prohibition order
• Use of an imitation firearm
• Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose

Webb was held for a bail hearing, and he has been held in custody pending a court appearance scheduled for June 4, 2024, in Medicine Hat Provincial Court.

Media Contact:

A/S/Sgt. Sean McGuigan
Patrol Section
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 403-529-8421

On May 22, 2024, the Medicine Hat Police Service’s Criminal Investigation Section received information that a male, who was staying in a hotel on Redcliff Drive SW, was in possession of a large quantity of drugs and a firearm.

The investigation resulted in a search warrant being executed on the hotel room where a quantity of methamphetamine and fentanyl was seized.  The estimated street value of the seized drugs is $10,442.

Ryan Paskaluk (27 years of age) was charged with the following;

• Failing to comply with a release order x 2
• Possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine)
• Possession of a controlled substance (fentanyl)

Paskaluk was held for a judicial interim release hearing where he was remanded into custody pending his next court appearance on May 28, 2024, in Medicine Hat Provincial Court.

Media Contact:
S/Sgt. Jason Graham
Criminal Investigation Section
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 403-529-8421

On May 23, 2024, the Medicine Hat Police Service (MHPS) responded to a firearms complaint in the area of Northlands Pointe NE.  Information received suggested that someone in the area had either intentionally or unintentionally discharged a firearm in the area.

The MHPS Criminal Investigation Section took over the investigation and a subject of interest was identified and arrested.  Subsequently a residential search warrant was executed and various loaded firearms including long barrel and pistol were located and seized.

As a result of the investigation Wyatt Martin (23 years of age) was charged with the following offences;

• Careless use/storage of a Firearm
• Possession of a prohibited / restricted weapon x 2
• Possession of a loaded prohibited or restricted firearm
• Alter/Deface/Remove serial number from a firearm
• Possession firearm/weapon obtained by offence

Martin was held for a judicial interim release hearing where he was released from custody pending his next court appearance on June 13, 2024, in Medicine Hat Provincial Court.

Media Contact:
S/Sgt. Jason Graham
Criminal Investigation Section
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 403-529-8421

On May 22, 2024, at 0342AM members of the Medicine Hat Police Service Patrol Section responded to an alarm at a business located in the 700 block of Redcliff Dr SW. Upon arrival, patrol officers found the building to be insecure and soon after a suspect was taken into custody.

The suspect, who was learned to be a youth, can not be identified under the provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act. The youth has been charged with one count of break and enter with intent to commit in accordance with Section 348 of the Criminal Code. This file is still under investigation.

S/Sgt Rod Thompson
Patrol Section
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 403-529-8461

The Medicine Hat Police Service will be conducting an over dimensional load escort on May 21, 2023, starting at 1:00 PM.  The load will be travelling from the west Redcliff Alberta limits on Highway #1 to the east limits of Dunmore Alberta on Highway #1. Traffic will be affected on Highway #1 and in the SW industrial area of Medicine Hat due to counterflowing of the over dimensional load.  Please avoid these areas if possible and arrange to take alternate routes, please be patient and follow all police/bylaw/pilot vehicle directions.

The Medicine Hat Police Service and Redcliff Bylaw will be conducting an over dimensional load escort on May 14, 2024, starting at 11:00 am.  The load will be travelling from the west Redcliff, Alberta limits on Highway #1 to the east limits of Dunmore,Alberta on Highway #1.  Traffic will be affected on Trans Canada Highway #1 and in the SW Industrial area or Medicine Hat due to counterflowing of the over dimensional load.  Please avoid these areas if possible and arrange to take alternate routes, please be patient and follow all police/bylaw/pilot vehicle directions.

A Medicine Hat man has been arrested following a joint investigation between ALERT’s Internet Child Exploitation unit and the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force of the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office in Tennessee.

The lengthy investigation concluded on April 25, 2024, when Tyler Clark was arrested at his home in Medicine Hat. The 38-year-old man was charged with online child luring and child sexual exploitation-related offences involving a Tennessee girl.

The suspect allegedly coerced the youth into sharing sexually explicit photos via multiple online chat applications while purporting to be a 13-year-old youth. The offences date back to 2021 when the victim was just 11 years old.

“There were over 7,000 messages exchanged between the suspect and the victim. We’re talking daily conversations that only stopped when it was discovered by the victim’s parent. This further underscores the need for parents to take a proactive role in understanding what their children are doing online,” said Staff Sgt. Mark Auger, ALERT ICE.

A search of Clark’s home led to the seizure of multiple computers and electronic devices, which are currently being analyzed by investigators. Medicine Hat Police Service helped with the search warrant execution.

Clark is charged with:

•              child luring;

•              making sexually explicit materials available to a child;

•              making child pornography;

•              possession child pornography; and

•              accessing child pornography.

“This arrest was only possible with the amazing responsiveness of the global network of like-minded Internet Crimes Against Children investigators. Together we transcended borders and remained diligent in our shared purpose of bringing justice to adults that are preying on our children,” said Det. Paul Lusk, ICAC Task Force.

Clark was released from custody on a number of court-imposed conditions to await his next court appearance scheduled for May 22, 2024.

For resources and help to recognize the signs of online child sexual exploitation, visit the ALERT website: alert-ab.ca/child-exploitation

Anyone with information this investigation or any child exploitation situation is asked to contact their local police, or to report their concern anonymously to Crime Stoppers (1-800-222-TIPS).

ALERT was established and is funded by the Alberta Government and is a compilation of the province’s most sophisticated law enforcement resources committed to tackling serious and organized crime.

Media inquiries may be directed to:

Mike Tucker
Communications Director
Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT)
780-509-3015