RCMP Target High-Priority Offenders in String of Arrests Across Wood Buffalo
The RCMP Crime Reduction Unit in Wood Buffalo has made multiple arrests this past month in a crackdown on high-priority offenders across the region. Officers have seized stolen property, weapons, and drugs, and laid dozens of charges following four separate incidents between May 6 and May 30.
The first arrest took place on May 6, when officers responded to a report of a dangerous driver in Abasand. The vehicle matched the description of a previously stolen vehicle. Police conducted a traffic stop and arrested three people without incident. Inside the vehicle, they located a controlled substance and a weapon. All three are facing charges including possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, possession for the purpose of trafficking, and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose. Two individuals were already under release or probation orders and now face additional charges. Two of the three remain in custody.
On May 22, police patrolling downtown Fort McMurray spotted a vehicle that had been reported stolen the night before. After observing a man and woman enter the vehicle using a key fob, officers blocked it in before the driver could flee. Both suspects were arrested without incident. The male driver is charged with possession of stolen property and failing to comply with probation. He was released on a court order.
The third incident happened on May 28, also in downtown Fort McMurray, when officers attempted to arrest a man known to police for a firearm-related investigation. The suspect fled on foot but was tracked and apprehended by a police dog. Officers recovered a firearm and ammunition from the suspect, who suffered minor injuries during the arrest. He faces multiple weapons-related charges and remains in custody.
Just two days later, on May 30, police were called to Chipewyan Prairie First Nation after reports that a man had threatened another person with a firearm. Officers from several RCMP units secured the area, including a nearby school, and recovered a weapon and ammunition outside the suspect’s residence. The man later turned himself in and is now facing weapons charges. He remains in custody.
Police say these arrests reflect their strategy to disrupt repeat offenders and reduce violent and property crime across the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. “The Wood Buffalo RCMP Crime Reduction Unit has been instrumental in investigating property crime and identifying and locating suspects. They successfully deal with priority offenders to ensure those that cause the most harm in the community are monitored and apprehended when necessary to maintain public safety,” said Chief Superintendent Mark Hancock.
The RCMP encourages residents to report suspicious or criminal activity, which helps guide patrols and investigations. Anyone with information can contact Wood Buffalo RCMP or remain anonymous through Crime Stoppers.
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