ARTICLES

Please be advised police are on the scene of a three vehicle motor collision at the bottom of Scholten Hill.  Traffic is reduced to one lane. 

Update.  The collision has been cleared, normal traffic flow has resumed. 

On August 17, 2020 at approximately 4:00 AM, members of the Medicine Hat Police Service (MHPS) and Medicine Hat Fire Service, responded to a fire within an apartment building located on Sprague Way SE. It appears that an unidentified person had intentionally started a fire within the stairwell. No one was injured and the damage was minimal due to the fire being put out at an early stage.

As this time, police are treating the investigation as an arson and members of the Major Crime Section are working to identify the person responsible for this offence.

Anyone with information that could assist the investigation is asked to contact the MHPS at 403-529-8481 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800 -222-8477 (TIPS). Tips may also be submitted (anonymously if preferred) thru the MHPS Mobile App, which is free and available to download for both Apple and Android devices by searching ‘Medicine Hat Police Service’ on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

Media Contact:

S/Sgt. Chad Holt
Major Crime Section
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 403-529-8421

The source of the frivolous 911 calls has been uncovered.  It was found to be a curious 5 year old who had been calling us.  We would like to thank those parents and family members who checked with their children and their devices to help us find the source of these calls. 

Members of the Medicine Hat Police Service are currently investigating a complaint involving frivolous 911 calls. Over the past 24 hours hundreds of calls have been made to Medicine Hat 911 Communication Centre from a disconnected cellular phone in the Medicine Hat area. The caller is believed to be a female child who is playing with an inactive phone. These phones maintain communication with the cellular network as a safety mechanism for 911 emergencies only.  When 911 communication lines are tied up these types of frivolous calls it can prevent legitimate 911 emergencies from being reported or attended by local emergency services. Parents are asked to monitor their children to ensure that they are not calling 911 from these inactive devices and request that inactive cellular devices are not given to children as toys.   

On the morning of August 10^th at around 4:00 am a member of the Medicine Hat Police was conducting a property check in the 600 block of Bridge Street SE and located a suspicious female trespassing in the area.  While the female was being arrested she brandished a box cutting knife, striking the officer in the face.  The officer sustained only a minor injury and did not require medical attention. The female, who will not be named, was subsequently charged with Assaulting a Police officer and Possession of a Weapon Dangerous. 

On August 5^th members of the MHPS Patrol Section attended to Hill Pool at 44 7 Street SW for a report of a mischief to the swimming pool. Investigators have determined that the damage occurred sometime between the late evening hours of August 4^th and the early morning hours of August 5^th. It was reported that a liquid substance was intentionally poured into the pool which will result in thousands of dollars of clean up, inconvenience and lost enjoyment for summer swimmers.

Members of the public who may have any information pertaining to this crime can call local police, or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Crime Stoppers is always anonymous. Medicine Hat residents can also submit tips anonymously through the Medicine Hat Police Service mobile app, which is free to download and available for both Apple and Android devices.

Media Contact:

S/Sgt Thompson

In the early morning daylight hours of August 2, 2020, Medicine Hat Fire Service and South East Alberta Search and Rescue returned to the South Saskatchewan River to begin the remains of the 31 year-old male who had been swept away into the river the previous day.

At about 11:15 am, August 2, 2020, Medicine Hat Fire Service located the remains of the male who had been previously reported as missing.

Foul play, alcohol, and drugs are not believed to be factors in this instance, however, the Medicine Hat Police Service has commenced a death investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of the individual. This is a normal function of the police and their duties as investigators on behalf of the Office of the Medical Examiner.

The following City of Medicine Hat Resources were deployed:

• Medicine Hat Fire Service
• Medicine Hat Police Service

Community Resources that contributed to the search and recovery were:

• HALO
• South Eastern Alberta Search and Rescue

The Medicine Hat Police Service Victim Assistance Unit is supporting the family with on-going support during the grief process.  

The Medicine Hat Police Service will not be releasing the name of the decedent.

On August 1, 2020 at 5:36 PM, emergency services were called to the area of the South Saskatchewan River near Finlay Bridge, as an adult male had gone missing while in the river. Police, Fire, South Eastern Alberta Search and Rescue, and HALO searched the river and surrounding area, however, by darkness he had not been located. Foul play, alcohol, and drugs are not believed to be factors. The male is described as Caucasian, 31 years old, 6’1” tall, and was wearing blue camouflage shorts. Anyone with information in relation to this incident is asked to call police at 403-529-8481. The search is to resume during daylight hours.

Emergency Crews are currently on the scene of a water rescue event at the South Saskatchewan River in Medicine Hat, Alberta.  

Please avoid the area and provide the emergency crews with room to work.

Further updates to follow.