ARTICLES

March 2022 marks the 18th anniversary of Fraud Prevention Month in Canada, a month-long crime prevention initiative aimed at educating and informing consumers and the community on how to recognize, report, and stop fraud.

Thousands of Canadians of all ages and from all walks of life are defrauded each year, costing Canadians in excess of $100 million dollars per year. There is no typical fraud victim as individuals and business across all demographics and industries can be impacted.

Consumers can play a role in stopping fraud by arming themselves with information, recognizing and reporting fraud when they encounter it. It is important for consumers to remain vigilant and aware of the many different types of fraud scams out there as they are ever-changing, and new trends are always emerging.

Throughout the month, the Medicine Hat Police Service Community Support Unit will be sharing information on how to recognize and stop from falling victim to common frauds and scams. Each week will focus on a different theme, with week one focusing on crypto currency frauds / scams/

With the emergence of crypto currencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, fraudsters have another tool to attempt to commit fraud with. Crypto currencies are a type of currency accepted worldwide without government or bank control. This has made it increasingly more difficult for people to contact someone directly to confirm that a transaction is real.

Often, fraudsters will use traditional scams such as mass marketing and phishing phone or email scams and lure victims through investment opportunities in crypto currency. The fraudsters will either have victims purchase crypto currency and send it as an investment or send the fraudster real money for them to purchase crypto currency for them. Either way, the fraudster takes the funds, controls them, and never provides the money back.

The same rules apply here. If you do not know who is investing your money, don’t give them your money. If an investment opportunity comes out of the blue and appears to be too good to be true, it likely is. Always be vigilant, ensure you trust the person or company that you are investing your money with, and research the crypto currency yourself to understand how it works and how to get involved with it.

Gift cards, or at least their codes, are also increasingly being used by fraudsters. Scammers will contact potential victims hoping to make them believe they owe money, or that a relative needs money, or they have won money. All they ask for, is for the person to go to a local store and purchase a variety of gift cards and call them back to provide the codes on the back. These codes are then used as a form of online currency by the fraudster to make online purchases.

If you are ever concerned that something is not legitimate, do not participate or share information and remember that legitimate businesses such as the CRA, CBSA, police, telephone providers, lottery companies, airlines, and other companies will never ask you to purchase gift cards and send the codes to them.

For more information contact:

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

Five people have been charged and more than $1.6 million in fentanyl and meth were seized in a joint investigation between ALERT and RCMP Federal Serious Organized Crime.

Project Motor is an 18-month investigation that spanned across Canada’s westernmost provinces. ALERT alleges the drug trafficking network had its origins in British Columbia’s lower mainland, and fanned out across Calgary, Edmonton, Medicine Hat, Red Deer, Grande Prairie, Saskatoon, and Winnipeg.

The investigation originated in Medicine Hat and came on the heels of a series of large drug busts in southeast Alberta in early 2020. ALERT was able to trace back the drug supply, and leverage criminal intelligence, in order to develop a clearer picture of the criminal organization believed to be responsible.

More than $1.6 million dollars’ worth of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine were seized, along with 11 firearms and $82,000 cash. Five members of the drug network have been charged with offences ranging from drug trafficking to conspiracy to traffic drugs to participating in a criminal organization.

The seizures took place during the course of the investigation and included homes being searched in Calgary, Edmonton, and Fort St. John, B.C. Investigators seized:

• 11 firearms;

• 4,998 grams of fentanyl;

• 9,970 grams of meth;

• 50 grams of cocaine;

• $82,500 cash;

Analysis is being completed on the firearms and drugs seized. The fentanyl alone represents a theoretical yield of 50,000 doses, as it would be typically sold on the street-level.

Four people have been charged with a total of 37 criminal offences:

• Matthew Edwards, 42-year-old from Calgary;

• Kevin Hind, 27-year-old from Calgary;

• Karnvir Sandhu, 25-year-old from Calgary; and

• Atta Ul Waheed Sheikh, 34-year-old from Fort St. John.

A warrant has been issued for an additional suspect, who is presently believed to be somewhere in British Columbia:

• Dillon Burgie, 40-year-old from Calgary.

Project Motor relied on the assistance of a number of police agencies and specialized units, including: Medicine Hat Police Service, Edmonton Police Service, Calgary Police Service, British Columbia Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU), Vancouver Police, and RCMP Fort St. John, and RCMP specialized units in E-Division and K-Division.

Members of the public who suspect drug or gang activity in their community can call local police, or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Crime Stoppers is always anonymous.

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

Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT)

780-509-3015

On January 22, 2022, the Medicine Hat Police Service was notified by the Swift Current RCMP of a vehicle that had been stolen in Swift Current, SK. The vehicle was equipped with GPS and the owner of the stolen vehicle was able to track its location to Medicine Hat, AB.

Police located the stolen vehicle parked a private driveway with two people inside. Both individuals failed to comply with police direction to exit the vehicle. The male driver then backed up and drove the vehicle away from police before later stopping in a yard, at which time both the male driver and female passenger exited the vehicle and ran from police. With the assistance of police K9, both individuals were taken into custody a short time later without further incident.

Resulting from this investigation a 26-year-old male and 26-year-old female, both from Medicine Hat, AB have been charged with possess stolen property over $5,000, resist arrest and flight from police. The male driver was also charged with breach of probation.

Media Contact:

Insp Joe West
Operational Services Division
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 403-529-8414

On January 21, 2022, members of the Medicine Hat Patrol Section Patrol Section conducted a traffic stop which resulted in the seizure .22 caliber rifle loaded with a 25-round magazine along, with 7.2 grams of fentanyl.

Upon further inspection of the firearm, it was noted that the serial number was partially defaced, and the muzzle of the firearm was painted orange in effort to replicate an “air soft style” weapon.

Resulting from this investigation, a 26-year-old Airdrie man was arrested and charged with numerous Criminal Code offences including possession of a controlled substance, possession of ID documents as well as numerous firearms related offences. The accused was remanded in custody for a future court date.

Media Contract:

Insp Joe West
Operational Services Division
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 403-529-8414

The Medicine Hat Police Service is requesting public assistance with identifying two persons of interest in relation to the continued investigation into multiple incidents of vehicle mischief and property theft in Medicine Hat that occurred between January 09 – January 11, 2022.

Thank you to all who have already submitted tips or video surveillance footage. Anyone with information regarding either of these persons of interest is asked to contact Constable Pierce by calling Medicine Hat 911 Communication at (403)529-8481. Tips can also be submitted online via the MHPS website (mhps.ca) or mobile app, which is free to download and available for both Apple and Android devices.

The Medicine Hat Police Service is requesting public assistance with the investigation into numerous vehicle mischiefs that have occurred over the past two nights and have resulted in thousands of dollars in damage to private property.

The areas impacted include Hudson Crescent NE, 19th Street NE, Hatcher Drive NE, as well as Rossmere, Rossland, and Ross Haven areas located in the southeast area of Medicine Hat.

The MHPS is requesting anyone with video recordings in those areas to review the footage from late evening on January 9th, to the early morning hours of January 10th, as well as the late hours of January 10th to the early morning hours of January 11th, 2022. Investigators would like to review recordings from the above dates and times that depicts any suspect(s) damaging vehicles in the above-mentioned locations.

Additionally, anyone with information in relation to these offences is asked to contact MHPS at 403-529-8481 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. Tips can also but submitted online via the MHPS website (mhps.ca) or mobile app, which is free to download and available for both Apple and Android devices.

Media Contact:

Staff Sergeant Rod Thompson
Patrol Section
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 403-529-8416

A man is in custody charged with several firearms related offences following a standoff with police that occurred at a Medicine Hat home on January 8, 2022.

On January 8, 2022, at approximately 3:00 PM, members of the Medicine Hat Police Service attended to a home the 0-100 block of Northlands Cres NE after receiving a report that Barry Reed, a 67-year-old male, was in possession of a handgun and had been involved in a dispute with a woman in the residence.

Patrols arrived on scene and were able to assist the woman safely from the residence. Reed remained in inside and at one point exited the house and went into the garage with a handgun. He was advised by police that he was under arrest but ignored commands and instead waived his handgun at the attending officers before fleeing back into the residence.

Members of the MHPS Tactical Team and Negotiators took over control of the scene and observed Reed walking around throughout the residence with a handgun in hand and refusing to follow any directions by police.

At approximately 7:45 pm, Reed came out of the house into the open garage and once again pointed his handgun again at police. Several less lethal rounds were deployed by police striking Reed twice. Reed then fired his gun at members of the Tactical Team hitting the MHPS Armoured Rescue Vehicle. Reed then tried to barricade himself within the garage, but several tactics were utilized by the Tactical Team resulting in Reed being taken safely into custody. Reed was transported to hospital for treatment of minor physical injuries and released a short time later a was transported to MHPS holding cells.

Reed has been remanded into custody, charged with numerous offences including Uttering Threats, Careless Storage of a Firearm, Pointing a Firearm, Assault with a Weapon, Possession of Weapon Dangerous, Reckless Discharging of a Firearm and Using a Firearm in the Commission of an Offense. His next court appearance set for January 12, 2022.

The MHPS would like to thank the public for their patience and cooperation during this high-risk situation. With the use of specialized equipment and training, including less lethal weapon options and the Armoured Rescue Vehicle, officers were able to bring this incident to a safe resolution without injuries or loss of life for the victim, residents in the area, police or the accused.

Media Contact:

S/Sgt Darcy Brandt
Criminal Investigation Section
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 403-529-8416

The incident that occured on Northlands Crescent has come to a conclusion.  This matter is still under investigation and no further details will be priovided at this time.  The Medicine Hat Police Service would like to thank the public for their patience and cooperation. 

The Medicine Hat Police Service along with other emergency services are currently at the scene of a serious incident in the Northland Crescent area.  We are asking the public to avoid the area until further notice.  

Two males charged with firearms and weapons offences following traffic stop on January 1, 2022.

On January 1, 2022, at approximately 3:30 PM a Medicine Hat Police Service Patrol officer conducted a traffic stop in the Flats are of Medicine Hat when he encountered a male driving while prohibited. The driver’s arrest led to a search of the vehicle which revealed a loaded 9mm handgun, a collapsible baton, bear spray, a stolen credit card and several other government identity documents that were not in the name of the driver or his passenger.

Resulting from this investigation two individuals were charged:

Steven Hart, 38-year-old, of Calgary, AB and Keagan Jackson, 33-year-old, of North Battleford, SK have both been charged with numerous firearms offences, illegal weapon offences, possession of a stolen credit card, illegal possession of identification documents and breaching of court-imposed conditions. Hart was also charged with driving while prohibited.

Both offenders have attended court before a Justice of the Peace for bail hearings. Hart was remanded in custody to awaiting his next court date of January 5, 2022. Jackson was eligible for release from custody on $150 cash bail and is scheduled to appear in court next on January 13, 2022.

Media Contact:

A/Insp Chad Holt
Operational Services Division
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 403-529-8414