ARTICLES

At about 1:30 pm, July 30, 2020, two patrol members were conducting a foot patrol of the down town core, when they were approached by a member of the public who reported open air intravenous drug use in the 400 Block of 5 Ave SE.

The patrol members located the group believed to be the persons involved.  While speaking with the individuals, the police officers observed drug paraphernalia consistent with the complaint.  One person in the group was found to be at large on a warrant for arrest.

As a result, a 31-year-old male was arrested on his warrant.  The male was searched as an incident to his arrest.  Police located the following items on the male:

• Stainless steel axe;
• Throwing knife;
• Stun Gun (prohibited weapon).

The male has been charged with the following:

• Breach of a Release Order;
• Possession of a Prohibited Weapon.

The accused is currently in custody awaiting a bail hearing. Because his charges have not yet been sworn, the police service will not be releasing the name of the accused at this time.

The MHPS will be focusing on young drivers during the month of August as part of the province wide Selected Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP). Vehicle crashes are the number one killer of young people in Alberta. Age, inexperience, distraction and peer pressure are significant factors in vehicle related injuries and death during the teen years. Crash rates for young drivers are the highest when there are teen passengers in the vehicle and when driving at night. One in five new drivers will be involved in a collision in their first year of driving.

Parents play a vital role in teaching their teens to drive. Parents of teen drivers should set a good example behind the wheel, and set specific rules for their teen driver and stick to them. Parents can also enroll their teen driver in driver education, and most importantly, help your teen to practice driving.

Did you know? In Alberta, a parent of a driver under 18 years of age must give written consent to allow their teen to get their operator’s license. Parents can revoke that permission at any time, and their teen’s operator’s license will be revoked. Parents maintain that right until their teen reaches the age of 18 years. If a parent or legal guardian wishes to withdraw parental consent, they may be required to submit their request in writing to any Alberta Registry Office. The parental withdrawal MUST be initiated by the same parent/person who signed the original consent form.

In August, the MHPS will also focus on Distracted Drivers, which continues to be a traffic safety priority. Many motorists continue to operate their vehicles while distracted, regardless of the fines and demerits associated with the offence. The risks associated with distracted driving closely resemble those of impairment, and it’s no surprise that governments are taking that next step to try and limit these occurrences.

In Alberta, the penalty for distracted driving is a $287 fine and three (3) demerit points. Drivers also need to be aware that the legislation is not specific to only texting or talking on a device, but states it is an offence to “hold, view, or manipulate” a hand-held device.

The Traffic Safety Act restricts drivers from:

• Holding, viewing or manipulating hand held cell phones, whether talking, texting or emailing
• using electronic devices like laptop computers, video games, cameras, video entertainment displays and programming portable audio players (MP3 players)
• entering information on GPS units
• reading printed materials in the vehicle
• writing, printing or sketching
• and personal grooming

A driver can pull over to the side of the road to use their devices, providing they are stopped and legally parked. If a driver is not in a legal parking spot, for instance a drive-thru, a ticket can still be issued. The only time a driver can use their cell phone while driving is to call in an emergency situation to a 9-1-1 Communications Centre.

For more information, contact:

Sgt. Gerald Sadlemyer

Traffic Unit

Medicine Hat Police Service

403-529-8471

The August 2020 Bylaw Education and Enforcement Program (BEEP) will be focusing on the animal care provisions under the Responsible Animal Ownership Bylaw, and cats to be specific.

Everyday your pet shows you unconditional love and affection; return the favour by being a responsible animal owner. To keep your pet happy, healthy and safe, and to demonstrate that you are a responsible pet owner be sure to:

• Keep cats within the confines of your property at all times. The use of a leash or outside cat play area are great ways to allow cats some outside time. Cats do cause some concerns while out and about such as messing in flower beds, spraying and marking territory and of course hunting.
• All cats, even the ones in apartments require a license, just like dogs. A license allows officers to easily identify you pet should they get lost and return it home to you.
• Spay or Neuter your cat. The over population of cats remains a very sad and difficult issue to get a head of. We must remain vigilant in spaying and neutering each and every cat, failure to do so results in starvation, disease, and death.
• Lastly, adopt, don’t shop. Adopting cats that have been vet checked ensures you will have a healthy cat, spaying and neutering cats protects the population , be a part of the solution and not problem.

For more information on being a responsible animal owner, visit the mhps.ca. For information about cats available for adoption visit to www.aparc.ca.

Media Contact:
Supt Heather Trail
Municipal Bylaw Enforcement Section
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 403-529-8436
 

Due to COVID-19 the Medicine Hat Police Service will not be hosting an auction this year and instead items normally disposed of through the police auction, including bikes, will be sold as part of upcoming Gateway Auction sales on August 22 and 29/20. Visit www.gwacountry.com for all of the details and to bid online.

Police are clear from the scene of the fire, however, a Medicine Hat Fire Service - Fire Investigator remains on scene in an attempt to determine the cause and the origin of the fire.

Emergency Crews are on scene at a structure fire in the 200 Block of 6 St SE., Medicine Hat.  Please avoid the area and allow the police and fire services room to work.  Any media inquiries are directed to the Medicine Hat Fire Service.

During the evening of July 22, 2020 members of the Medicine Hat Police Service (MHPS), working in partnership with the Winnipeg Police Service (WPS), responded to a report of a stolen BMW SUV nearing the city of Medicine Hat.

Members of the MHPS conducted a high risk vehicle stop and arrested a 24-year-old male, from Calgary, AB, without incident. A search of the vehicle incidental to arrest located stolen property, with an estimated value of $10,000, suspected to be from MB. Total value of recovered property is estimated to be valued in excess of $50,000.

The male is currently held in police custody awaiting a Judicial Interim Release hearing. The name of the individual cannot be released as the formal charges have not been sworn to before a Justice of the Peace. Additional charges are pending from the WPS.

Media Contact

Acting S/Sgt Harley Kesler
Patrol Section
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 403-529-8461

20-16142

On July 21, 2020 at approximately 8:20PM, members of the Medicine Hat Police Service responded to the 100 block of Anson Ave SW for a report of a motor vehicle collision involving a pedestrian versus vehicle. Emergency Medical Services transported the pedestrian to the Medicine Hat Regional Hospital where the 71 year old male later succumbed to his fatal injuries. Emergency crews have since departed the scene, however Police continue to investigate the cause of this collision. There are no further details available at this time.

The MHPS extends condolences to the friends and family of the deceased male. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.

On July 20, 2020 members of the Medicine Hat Police Service (MHPS) responded to six different calls for service related to mental health and addictions crisis. Five of those calls resulted in persons being apprehended under the provisions of the mental health act and transported to a medical facility for evaluation.

All of the calls were successfully deescalated without injury to the subjects, the officers or members of the community. The calls are summarized as follows:

• Disturbance with violence where officers were able to diffuse the situation without incident and subject transported to medical facility.
• Disturbed person with a knife brandished as a weapon
• Call which required police to force entry to a residence where subject threatened self-harm with a knife. The matter was successfully diffused and the subject was transported to medical facility.
• Subject with mental health issued related to drug addiction was actively causing a disturbance and property damage. Officers were threatened with a hypodermic needle but the situation was diffused without incident.
• Subject with complex needs and addictions issues. This subject was dealt with, without the need for arrest and was provided with community supports. No weapons involved.
• Local medical facility requested police attendance to diffuse a crisis situation on site.

On average the MHPS receives 1,200 calls for service per year related to mental illness or addictions concerns, with approximately 1/3 of those resulting in apprehensions under the provisions of the Mental Health Act. Recently there has been a great deal of discussion provincially and nationally regarding police response to mental health calls, exploring a different approach to responding to individuals in crisis. Our Service is open to that dialogue as the root issues continue to worsen and we are aware that we cannot solve these issues without collaboration and partnership with our public health partners. In the meanwhile our goal will be to remain committed to focusing on the safety of the person in crisis, the responding officers and our community. At the MHPS, officers receive training in; crisis communications and de-escalation, mental health, implicit biased training, and recognition of emotionally disturbed persons.

Since 2016, the MHPS, in partnership with Alberta Health Services (AHS), has paired a mental health clinician and a police officer with the purpose of identifying and diverting individuals with mental illness or addiction issues away from the justice system and toward the most appropriate community services and resources to stabilize them.

By having a mental health specialist review calls with police, clients immediately receive a mental health assessment, and the team determines the most appropriate course of action. Teams also provide assertive community outreach to the vulnerable homeless population by building a rapport with individuals and connecting them with appropriate community services. Since its inception the MHPS has noted a 50 percent reduction in suicides and attempted suicides and an 8 percent reduction in total mental health calls, while it is still too early to draw conclusions, the MHPS believes that integrated model for intervention is the key to success.

For more information contact:

Insp Brent Secondiak
Operational Services Division
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 403-529-8412

Members of the Medicine Hat Police Service are investigating a single vehicle motor vehicle collision that occurred on Holsom Road at the intersection with Highway #3, which has resulted in the death of a 58-year-old female, who was the driver and lone occupant of a motorcycle.

Police are on scene conducting the investigation into the cause of this collision and as such the intersection at the Holsom Road and Highway #3 will be closed until the evening of July 20, 2020. Traffic will be rerouted from this intersection, but the public is encouraged to avoid the area if possible. An update will be provided once the roadway is cleared.

The MHPS extends condolences to the friends and family of the deceased female. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.

Media Contact:

Sgt. Gerald Sadlemyer
Traffic Unit
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 403-529-8471