On Jan. 5, RCMP said, members of the unit in the area of Buck Lake, about 150 km southwest of Edmonton, saw two pickup trucks driving together that matched the description of vehicles stolen from Rocky Mountain House earlier that day.
The unit was conducting surveillance in an area known to be frequented by criminals, RCMP added, and officers followed the vehicles to a residence in Violet Grove, about 50 km north of Buck Lake.
A search of the property revealed five more pickup trucks and a fifth wheel reportedly stolen from central Alberta sites including Rocky Mountain House, Drayton Valley, Parkland County, Calmar, and Sangudo, RCMP said.
RCMP have charged Jason Sylvain Roy, 34, of Wetaskiwin, with two counts of possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, possession of a controlled substance, and seven counts of failing to comply with release conditions.
RCMP have also charged Derek Fernand Lavoie, 32, of Brazeau County, with two counts of possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, flight from police and possession of a controlled substance.
Roy was held in custody while Lavoie was released, and both have Wednesday court appearances scheduled for Breton.
Hiscock said his unit has a mandate to investigate multi-jurisdictional offenders in cooperation with central Alberta RCMP detachments and make it harder for offenders “to commit crimes and victimize Albertans in one county and run and hide in another.”
Source: EdmontonJournal