ARTICLES

The Medicine Hat Police Service has located and charged prolific offenders for local vehicle/property thefts. On July 4, 2019, the Medicine Hat Police Service Priority Street Crime Unit and members of the Patrol Section concluded a short duration investigation concerning suspects responsible for the recent stolen vehicle trend in Medicine Hat. During the afternoon of July 4, police located and arrested a suspect in the thefts, 28 year old Travis Seitz of Medicine Hat, on the 1200 block of South Railway St SE, for outstanding arrest warrants. The investigation continued into the evening of July 4, and the MHPS in conjunction with the Redcliff RCMP to locate and arrest 24 year old Raymond Needham and 20 year old Devon Koehle, both of Medicine Hat, for outstanding arrest warrants. Needham and Koehle were located in a residence on the 400 block of 2 St. SE Redcliff, AB. As a result of this investigation, property valued at an estimated $59, 000.00 was recovered, including two stolen trucks and a stolen cargo trailer, and 26 criminal code charges were laid against the three accused.

The MHPS would like to thank the community for their assistance with this investigation and urges people to download and use the MHPS Mobile app to provide tips to the police regarding criminal activities.

The Medicine Hat Police Service By-law Section and Patrol section, continue to clean up areas of the City, where noticeable amounts of waste have been noted by pro-active Patrols and complaints from the Public. On July 4, 2019 members of the Police Service Executive Team attended to the SE hill and observed some of the public concerns including waste materials and temporary shelters. These areas are currently being cleaned and the occupants have been provided access to local social services. The Police Service would like to remind the public that camping on City property is prohibited by By-law as well as littering. 

The Police Service remains committed to ensuring the use of public spaces can be enjoyed by all and will enforce by-laws and provincial regulations as required.  The public is remind to download to MHPS Mobile Application to report any on-going concerns.

Media Release 19-15566 Male captured by K9 contact after fleeing and assaulting police officers

On July 3^rd at approximately 10:00pm police observed a male in the downtown core who was wanted for a previous break-in. When told he was under arrest, the male fled on a bicycle carrying a set of golf clubs. Police followed the suspect who abandoned the bike in front of the library. The male then took a golf club and raised it to an officer in a striking motion. Other officers arriving were confronted by the male who tried to punch an officer in the face.

A physical struggle ensued whereby the suspect tore off part of an officer’s uniform and broke free of the arrest attempt. The K9 unit arrived and PSD Flint was deployed, making positive contact with the suspect. Police then took the male into custody and conveyed him the Medicine Hat Regional Hospital for assessment. While at the hospital the suspect continued to be combative and was spitting at the escorting officer.

The male is known to police and has a history of night-time criminal activity in and around the downtown area.

The male is now in police holdings to await a Judicial Interim Release hearing on the following charges:

• Break & Enter
• Breach of existing release conditions
• Resist arrest
• Assault with a weapon
• Assault Police
• Possession of Stolen Property

This is a great example of those times where directed patrolling in area’s based on crime analytics provided police with an arrest of a male known to victimize this particular region of the city.

During the month of July the Medicine Hat Police Service (MHPS) will be focussing on impaired driving as part of our Strategic Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP). During the summer months, we tend to see an increase in the number of alcohol related driving offences. This was no exception in 2018, when the MHPS laid 30 impaired driving charges in July alone. That accounted for over twenty-one percent of our annual impaired driving arrests. Alcohol related collisions also tend to increase through the summer months with thirty-three percent of them in 2018 having occurred in July.

Mandatory Alcohol Screening (MAS) has now been in effect for a little over six months and trends are beginning to show. While our year-to-date criminal impaired driving charges having remained rather consistent compared to recent years, we have seen a rather steep incline in the number of Immediate Roadside Sanctions (IRS) that have been issued to those motorists with a blood alcohol ranging between .05mg% and 0.1mg%. Year-to-date in 2019, the MHPS has issued twenty-six three-day IRS Suspensions to first time offenders, compared to ten last year. Two 15-day IRS suspensions have been issued to second time offenders so far this year. MHPS has also experienced an increase in the number of 30-day suspensions issued to GDL drivers under the Alberta Zero Alcohol Tolerance (AZAT) Program. All IRS and AZAT suspensions carry a 3 or 7-day vehicle seizure.

Another shocking statistic that we have experienced is the number of daytime impaired driving arrests that we have seen since the implementation of Mandatory Alcohol Screening. Since MAS began, 24 of our 68 impaired driving arrests have occurred between the hours of 7am and 7pm. That means that over 35% of those caught for impaired driving were operating during daytime hours when our roadways are at their busiest and the risk to the public is at the highest. Therefore, while our overall impaired numbers have remained consistent with pre-MAS numbers, we are finding that Mandatory Screening is allowing our officers to better detect those who have the ability to mask their impairment.

Throughout July, MHPS will be conducting proactive patrols for alcohol and drug related driving offences and the public should expect to see an increased presence of Check stop’s throughout the city. Our goal is to reduce the frequency of impaired driving and eliminate alcohol and drug related collisions in our community.

In an effort to increase awareness and improve understanding about the process of MAS, the MHPS will be providing opportunities citizens with the opportunity to try the Approved Screening Device during the month of July. Look for the MHPS booth at the Canada Day celebrations in Kin Coulee where officers will have the equipment available.

For more information, please contact:

Sgt. Clarke White
Traffic Unit
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 403-529-8471

The Municipal Bylaw Enforcement Section of the Medicine Hat Police Service will be focusing on Property Standards for the month of July 2019.

The Municipal Bylaw Enforcement Section would like to remind residents of their responsibilities as tenants and property owners.

Unsightly Property is property that, in the opinion of a Bylaw Enforcement Officer, is detrimental to the surrounding area because of its unsightly condition.

When determining whether property is Unsightly the following factors are considered:

• Uncut grass and weeds.
• Vegetation that interferes with the use or visibility of street signage, sidewalks, road clearance, municipal works or public utilities.
• Wrecked or dismantled vehicles including vehicles that are inoperable and unregistered.
• Storage or accumulation of garbage, litter refuse, dilapidated furniture or appliances, machinery or machinery parts or similar items.
• Specific or general lack of repair or maintenance of the property.
• Location, zoning, use and visibility of the property.

A Bylaw Officer may issue a written Direction to the occupant and owner or an Order to the property owner to improve the appearance of the property in a specified way in a specified time period.  Failing to comply with a direction or order could result in fines of $250 for a first offence and $500 for each subsequent offence, and the City may cause the property to be cleaned up and bill the owner for the costs of the clean-up. To report any concerns, please call the non-emergency line at 403-529-8481.

For more information contact
Supt. Heather Trail
Bylaw Section
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 403-529-8436

The Medicine Hat Police Service (MHPS) Major Crimes Section has been investigating two disturbances that occurred in Kin Coulee Park on Friday, June 14, 2019 and Friday, June 21, 2019.  

Resulting from the investigation, 13 youths and one adult have been charged with a total of 25 criminal charges including;Assault, Assault with a Weapon, Assault Causing Bodily Harm, Aggravated Assault, Possess of Weapon Dangerous to the Public and Wearing a Disguise During the Commission of an Offence.  The investigation is ongoing and may lead to additional arrests and charges.    

All of the youths charged were held in custody to appear before a Justice of the Peace in an attempt to have specific conditions obtained upon their release, including restricted access to public parks within Medicine Hat unless they are in the presence of a parent, amongst a variety of other conditions. These conditions were recommended by the MHPS to enhance the safety all citizens of Medicine Hat as they enjoy recreational areas within the city.

The MHPS reminds the community to report all suspicious or concerning behavior, whether it occurs in a neighborhood or a park, to Police by calling 9-1-1 in an emergency or 403-529-8481 for all other non-emergencies.

Media Contact:

S/Sgt. Chad Holt

Major Crime Section
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 403-529-8421

A three-month investigation by ALERT’s Medicine Hat organized crime team has dismantled a drug trafficking network operating in southeast Alberta. Seven people were arrested, and more than $64,000 worth of drugs and cash was seized.

The investigation concluded on June 18, 2019, when ALERT investigators stopped two vehicles en route to Medicine Hat and arrested five of the seven suspects. The other two were arrested the same day as search warrants were executed at three residences in Medicine Hat, along with one in Elkwater, about 65 kilometres southeast of the city.

Over the course of the investigation, ALERT seized a total of $64,410 worth of drugs and cash, including:

• 372 grams of cocaine;
• 1,074 grams of psilocybin mushrooms;
• 1,563 grams of a cocaine buffing agent; and
• $5,630 cash proceeds of crime.

Two shotguns and numerous rounds of ammunition were also seized, along with an assortment of knives and other weapons.

“Disrupting and dismantling organized crime groups such as this one is at the top of ALERT’s list of priorities,” said Staff Sgt. Cory Both, ALERT Medicine Hat. “Taking down what we believe to be a whole network is a big feather in our team’s cap, but we know we have to stay focused on not letting other groups gain a foothold in our communities.”

A total of 27 drug and firearm-related charges have been laid against seven suspects:

• Kurtis Siemens, 24, of Medicine Hat;
• Jazden Posti, 23, of Medicine Hat;
• Michael Van De Wiele, 35, of Medicine Hat;
• Kevin Ehrler, 27, of Medicine Hat;
• Jeremy Hearn, 33, of Edmonton;
• Justin Nazarek, 25, of Edmonton; and
• Zachary Kroetsch, 24, of Edmonton.

More charges may be laid in the future.

Assistance on this file was provided by Medicine Hat Police Service, ALERT’s Calgary organized crime team, Calgary Police Service, and Morinville RCMP.

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. Members of Calgary Police Service, Edmonton Police Service, Lethbridge Police Service, Medicine Hat Police Service, and RCMP work in ALERT.

Media inquiries may be directed to:

Staff Sgt. Cory Both
Medicine Hat Organized Crime Team
Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT)
Phone: 403-529-8448

Glenn Cook
Communications Consultant
Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT)
Phone: 780-509-3028

On June 4, 2019 a number of residents in the North East and North West areas of Medicine Hat, reported damage to a number of tires on their vehicles that had occurred overnight. Initial police investigations determined the damage to be stab marks in the tires.

Following a thorough investigation completed by the Medicine Hat Patrol Section on June 21, 2019, three youths were charged with 13 counts of causing Mischief under $5,000. The total value of the damage caused is estimated at $4,500.

The youths, who cannot be named according to the Youth Criminal Justice Act, are scheduled to appear in Provincial Youth Justice Court. The owners of the damaged vehicles have been contacted by MHPS Victim Services to complete restitution requests, which will be considered by the Provincial Youth Justice Court when the matter is resolved.

Media Contact:

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

The Police Service wishes to advise the public that we are aware of the video circulating via social media of the altercation that occurred on June 21st, 2019.  Police recognize that video evidence captures only a portion of an occurrence.  As such the Major Crimes section is continuing all avenues of investigation at this time. 

On, June 21^st, 2019 at approximately 9:00, members of the Medicine Hat Police Service attended to an altercation in Kin Coulee park, involving numerous youths. During the altercation several persons were injured and required medical attention. Non of the injuries are life threatening. The Major Crimes Section is investigating the incident and no further information will be released at this time.