ARTICLES

Two alleged drug dealers were arrested and over a kilogram of cocaine was seized following an ALERT investigation in Medicine Hat.

ALERT Medicine Hat’s organized crime team made the arrests and seizures on June 3, 2025 with help from Medicine Hat Police Service and Redcliff RCMP. The drugs seized have an estimated street value of $125,000.

Two Medicine Hat homes were searched after a planned traffic stop was conducted near Redcliff, Alta. Just over one kilogram of cocaine was located inside a vehicle and two people are accused of drug trafficking in the city.

“Our enforcement strategy was successful in stopping this large amount of drugs from circulation. This is a sizeable seizure for Medicine Hat and spared our community considerable harm,” said Staff Sergeant Ryan Thorburn, ALERT.

In total, ALERT seized 1,242 grams of cocaine and $9,180 cash.

Two people were charged and both remain in custody:

•             Konnor Smith-Boutlier, 24-year-old from Medicine Hat, is charged with possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking and possession of proceeds of crime;

•             Melissa Gertner, 46-year-old from Medicine Hat, is charged with possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking, possession of proceeds of crime, and possession of a prohibited weapon;

On June 5, 2025, at about 3:30 pm, after observing a driver of a vehicle drop an article of drug paraphernalia out of their vehicle, a member of the Medicine Hat Police Service Patrol Section, conducted a traffic stop in the 600 Block of Kingsway Avenue SE.

Upon identifying both the driver and the passenger of the vehicle, it was determined that they both had outstanding warrants for their arrest.  A subsequent search of the vehicle, resulted in the following items being located and seized;

• 37 grams of fentanyl
• 16 grams of methamphetamine
• Drug packaging material used for resale
• Individually packaged quantities of fentanyl believed to be for resale
• A metal extendable baton
• A can of bear spray
• 3 functioning scales
• Multiple drug pipes
• Large quantity of Canadian currency

As a result of the seizure a 36-year-old male and a 36-year-old female, both from Edmonton have been charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking (fentanyl), possession for the purpose of trafficking (methamphetamine), possession of a weapon dangerous, and possession of proceeds of crime.  In addition to this, the male was also charged with failing to comply with a release order.

Both individuals are currently in custody and being held for a Judicial Interim Release Hearing.

Please join us at the 64th Annual Medicine Hat Police Association Ball on October 18, 2025.  This event is open to the public to attend.  Tickets are $80 each or a table of eight for $600.  Music will be provided by MacKinney Music, and all proceeds from the event will be donated to the Special Olympics.

For more information or to purchase tickets contact Sgt. Darlene Garrecht 403-952-6898.

On June 7, 2025, twenty-two local Grade 6 students received scholarships from the Chief Earl Leadership Legacy Fund.  The Fund was established in 2008 to celebrate Chief Earl’s contributions to the community and to honor his memory.

Each year, elementary schools identify students from within the local school districts who have demonstrated the qualities of future leaders based on the four core values of the Medicine Hat Police Service, with an additional focus on leadership and citizenship. Since its inception, and as of today, 275 students have been recognized.

The fund is administered through the Community Foundation of Southeastern Alberta with sponsorship from the Medicine Hat Safe Community Association and Medicine Hat Police Association. Parents of the scholarship recipients are encouraged to place the awards into an existing or newly opened Registered Educational Savings Plan.

Congratulations to this year’s recipients:

Medicine Hat Catholic Board of Education Recipients: (6)

•             Mother Teresa School: Malin Lecorps

•             St. Michael’s School: Reese Holeha

•             St. Francis Xavier School: Paisley Krasko

•             St. Louis School: Lauren Pancoast

•             Ecole St John Paull II: Tara Tainsh

•             Notre Dame Academy: Alex Angadiyath

Charter/Private School Recipients: (2)

•             Ecole Les Cypres: Euphie Jerome

•             CAPE School: Sarah Bendary

Medicine Hat School District No. 76 Recipients: (14)

•             Crestwood School: Evelyn Scholz

•             Ross Glen School: Kaley Ruckaber

•             Connaught School:  Garnet Jensen

•             Dr Roy Wilson Learning Centre: Elle Osadczuk

•             Webster Niblock School:  Violet Coroy

•             Vincent Massey School:  Harmony Woodworth

•             River Heights School: Jax Armstrong

•             Herald School: Jaxson Gackle

•             George Davison School: Luke Trepanier

•             Elm Street School: Luciana Capriz

•             Dr Ken Sauer: Mason Earle

•             Southview School:  Kristina Correa

•             Medicine Hat Christian School: Navlyn Camphaug

•             Hub: Lissette Tucker

Media Contact:

Sgt Adam Gregory
Community Support Unit
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 403-529-8451

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

On May 9, 2024, a male was arrested and charged in connection to a series of businesses and personal vehicles that were damaged in the early morning hours of May 8, 2024.  As a result of the investigation, Robert Leduc, a 52-years-old, of no fixed address, has been charged with several offences including: 

• Four counts of Mischief over $5000
• Seven counts of Mischief Under $5000
• One count of Cause a False Fire Alarm

Leduc was remanded into custody and scheduled to appear in Calgary Court of Justice on May 10, 2024.

The Medicine Hat Police Service extends a thank you to everyone who provided information that aided in the investigation.

Media Contact:
S/Sgt Trevor Humphries
Patrol Section
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 403-529-8461

May 8, 2024- Public Assistance Requested - Mischief to Property

The Medicine Hat Police Service is seeking public assistance to help further the investigation into damages reported at several local businesses and to private vehicles.

At approximately 4:30 AM on May 8^th, 2024, members of the MHPS Patrol Section responded to a report of damage to a commercial building located in the 0 block of Carry Drive SE. Upon arrival, officers observed extensive damage to the business with numerous windows that had been smashed. Patrol officers were then directed to six other businesses in the vicinity that also had numerous windows that had been broken.  In addition, there were vehicles in the area that also had broken windows, as well as a telecommunication box in the area that had been vandalized. It is believed that the same suspect(s) is responsible for all incidents.

The investigation is ongoing and the MHPS is requesting anyone with information that could assist the investigation into these incidents to call 403-529-8481. Business owners with video surveillance of the area around the time of the offence are asked to check their footage and report if they have video of the suspect. The MHPS is also asking the public for their assistance in identifying a male subject in the attached picture who may have information regarding these incidents.

Tips can 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

The Medicine Hat Police Service is now accepting applications from individuals interested in participating in a Citizen’s Police Academy (CPA). This outreach program is intended to provide community members with the opportunity to learn more about the MHPS, and gain an increased awareness of current policing issues and community safety concerns, through a series of lectures, hands on learning and practical demonstration.

The CPA will start on September 11, 2024, with classes held in the MHPS Community Boardroom and that run weekly on Wednesday evenings from 6pm to 9pm, for ten weeks.  The final class will be held on November 13, 2024.  The presentations, delivered by police personnel, will be interactive and provide insight into the diverse nature of policing, with topics including; an overview of uniformed operations, specialty teams, major crime investigation, community safety initiatives, and emerging crime trends. 

Applicants must be at least 18 years old and successfully pass a security clearance check.  There will be no cost to register or participate. Class size will be limited to 20 participants.  The Academy will conclude with an official graduation ceremony where participants who have successfully completed the program will be presented with a certificate.

For those interested in learning more about policing as a possible profession this program could be helpful however the CPA is NOT intended to train people to be police officers and will not be considered as part of the MHPS recruiting and selection process.

The application deadline for fall CPA 2024 session is June 26, 2024. To apply visit MHPS.ca

For more information contact:

Sgt. Carissa Witkowski
Citizen Police Academy Facilitator
Ph: 403-952-5642
Email: carwit@mhps.ca