Notable Activities from the month of April:
On April 1, Cst. Tanner Wills was recognized as the Hero of the Game at game 3 of the Edmonton Oil Kings’ first-round playoff series vs the Prince Albert Raiders. Cst. Wills is the School Resource Officer at Sturgeon Composite High School and Morinville Community High School. He received the recognition for his outstanding contributions and dedication to community service.
On April 2, members of Morinville RCMP and Sturgeon County Municipal Enforcement hosted a Coffee with a Cop event in Gibbons. This included general discussion on policing, community safety priorities and careers in law enforcement.
On the morning of April 4, Morinville RCMP, along with members of the RCMP Crime Reduction Team, arrested a suspect in possession of a 2007 Chevy Silverado in Sturgeon County north of Bon Accord. The truck had been stolen earlier in the day from a dealership in Ponoka. The suspect had attempted to flee from police but the vehicle was immobilized with a spike belt, and the suspect was taken into custody with assistance from air services. The suspect, a 24 year old man from Morinville, was brought before a Justice of the Peace and remanded in custody to appear in St. Albert Provincial Court on April 28 to face two charges of theft, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, possession of break-in instruments, fraudulent concealment, failing to comply with previous release conditions, six weapons-related charges, and two provincial traffic offences.
In the early morning of April 5, Morinville RCMP arrested a suspect during a late-night patrol on Highway 651 near Legal, in possession of a stolen 1996 Honda Civic. The vehicle had been stolen the previous day from a residence in Edmonton. A 40-year-old man from Saskatoon was arrested and charged with possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of a stolen licence plate, two counts of failing to comply with previous release conditions from Saskatchewan, and five traffic related offences. The suspect was brought before a Justice of the Peace and remanded in custody to appear in Morinville Provincial Court on April 17, where he pleaded guilty to multiple charges and was sentenced to a total of 150 days in custody.
On the evening of April 11, Morinville RCMP along with members of the RCMP Crime Reduction Team arrested a suspect driving a vehicle with a stolen licence plate in Sturgeon County between Gibbons and Redwater. Several illegal weapons were also found in the vehicle at the time of arrest. A 39-year-old man from Vimy was arrested and charged with possession of stolen property and four weapons-related charges. He was brought before a Justice of the Peace and has been remanded in custody to appear in Morinville Provincial Court on May 8.
On the morning of April 18, Morinville RCMP responded to a shooting in the Morinville Estates Manufactured Home Community in Morinville. A 37-year-old man was found deceased at the scene. The shooting is believed to have bene targeted with no risk to the general public, and the RCMP Serious Crimes Branch is investigating.
On the afternoon of April 21, Morinville RCMP responded to a two-vehicle collision on Highway 28 just north of Highway 642 in Sturgeon County. A northbound pickup truck crossed the centre line and collided head-on with a southbound semi-truck. The driver of the pickup truck, a 44-year-old man from Edmonton, died at the scene, while the driver of the semi-truck was not injured. Traffic in the area was redirected for several hours while police investigated.
RCMP Morinville Detachment would like to provide residents with crime prevention tools and tips to help reduce the risk of auto theft. Opportunistic thieves often target vehicles that are left unlocked or with keys still in the ignition. Once a vehicle is stolen, it may be dismantled for parts, or shipped overseas, or even resold within Alberta using a falsified vehicle identification number (VIN), putting unsuspecting buyers at risk.
So far this year, the most targeted vehicles for theft in Alberta are:
RCMP are advising residents of the following theft prevention tips:
- Always make sure to lock your vehicle.
- Never leave keys or garage door openers in your vehicle.
- Never leave important documents with personal identifying information in your vehicle.
- Ensure all valuables are removed or out of sight. This includes shopping bags, loose change, sunglasses, and any electronics.
- Do not leave your windows open when you leave your vehicle.
- If possible, store your vehicle in a locked garage when not in use.
- Park your vehicle in well-lit areas and within sight. If you’re unable to park in a locked garage, keep outdoor lights on for added security.
- Install anti-theft and vehicle tracking devices.
- Install steering wheel clubs on any vehicles equipped with push button ignitions. These vehicles are highly vulnerable to thefts.
RCMP Morinville Detachment would also like to announce their policing priorities for 2025/26, which will consist of:
- Property Crime Reduction – 15% reduction of auto thefts and break and enters over the next year.
- Community Engagement – Enhanced positive engagement between police and the community.
- Police Visibility – Coordination of increased patrols and public notifications.
These priorities will also include initiatives related to traffic safety, targeted investigations into property crimes, offender management strategies, community awareness, youth engagement, and strategies to improve communication from police to the public. The RCMP would like to thank the various community members throughout the Morinville Detachment area who contributed their input into policing priorities over the past several months.
RCMP Morinville Detachment is also pleased to announce the launch of the Sturgeon Regional Positive Ticketing program. Beginning May 1, members of the Morinville RCMP, Town of Morinville Municipal Enforcement, and Sturgeon County Municipal Enforcement will be issuing positive tickets to youth recognizing those who demonstrate good citizenship, such as helping others, following safety rules, volunteering, or showing acts of kindness.
The tickets will serve as positive recognition and each will be attached to a reward in the form of a gift certificate that can be redeemed for treats from various local businesses. Recipients and their parents are also encouraged to share posts on social media of their experiences receiving positive tickets. Local police and peace officers are looking forward to recognizing the many deserving youths in our community as they kick off another fun spring and summer!
