Six charged after liquor store robbery investigation.

by

Jon Tupper

Back bar image. Wikimedia Commons CC license
Back bar image. Wikimedia Commons CC license

Six individuals are facing a variety of charges in connection with a Wood Buffalo RCMP investigation into liquor store thefts.

In December of 2023, RCMP partnered with local businesses and corporations to tackle the ongoing problem of liquor store thefts. With assistance from the Wood Buffalo Crime Reduction Unit and RCMP Criminal Intelligence, law enforcement located and retrieved over $3,000 worth of property stolen from local alcohol retailers.  

During the investigation, RCMP also located and seized nearly half a kilogram of suspected methamphetamine. Since September 2023, Wood Buffalo RCMP has received over 350 calls for service regarding liquor thefts from businesses in Fort McMurray.

Police have arrested and charged several people in relation to these investigations.  

Anthony Johnson, 26-year-old resident of Fort McMurray, has been arrested and is facing charges of:

  • 1 count of theft under $5,000

Johnson has been released from Police custody following a Judicial Interim hearing. He is set to appear in the Alberta Court of Justice – Fort McMurray on Feb. 26.

Theresa Antoine, 33-year-old resident of Fort McMurray, has been arrested and is facing charges of:

  • 1 count of Possession for the purpose of trafficking
  • 1 count of Possession of property obtained by Crime Under $5,000

Antoine has been released from Police custody following a Judicial Interim hearing. She is set to appear in the Alberta Court of Justice – Fort McMurray on Feb. 27.

Blaine Whiteknife, a 42-year-old resident of Fort McMurray, has been arrested and is facing charges of:

  • 1 count of Possession for the purpose of trafficking
  • 1 count of Possession of property obtained by Crime Under $5,000

Whiteknife has been released from Police custody following a Judicial Interim hearing. She is set to appear in the Alberta Court of Justice – Fort McMurray on Feb. 27.

Dakota Merasty, a 30-year-old resident of Fort McMurray, has been arrested and is facing charges of:

  • 1 count of theft under $5,000
  • 1 of count of Possession of property obtained by Crime Under $5,000

Merasty has been released from Police custody following a Judicial Interim hearing. He is set to appear in the Alberta Court of Justice – Fort McMurray on March 6.

Selam Asefad, 36-year-old resident of Fort McMurray, has been arrested and is facing charges of:

  • 1 count of theft under $5,000

Asefad has been released from Police. He is set to appear in the Alberta Court of Justice – Fort McMurray on March 6.

Liban Hersi, a 30-year-old-resident of Fort McMurray, has been arrested and is facing charges of:

  • 1 count of theft under $5,000
  • 2 counts of Fail to comply with Probation Order
  • 4 counts of Fail to comply with release order.

Hersi has been released from Police custody following a Judicial Interim hearing. He is set to appear in the Alberta Court of Justice – Fort McMurray on Feb. 26.

Wood Buffalo RCMP continue to investigate reported liquor thefts and drug trafficking allegations.  Anyone with information regarding this or any other crime, contact the Wood Buffalo RCMP at (780) 788‐4040.

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