DIDSBURY – A tip from the public pointed police toward a scene where Mounties discovered a vehicle reported stolen from Calgary along with two male suspects.
On March 31 at 9:03 a.m., Didsbury RCMP received a report of a suspicious vehicle on Township Road 293a in Mountain View County, said police in a press release issued earlier today.
“En route to the location, patrol officers were notified the suspicious vehicle had been reported stolen out of Calgary,” the statement reads in part, adding the vehicle was found parked on the shoulder of the road and that two males suspects were subsequently arrested.
However, prior to being taken into custody, one of the males first attempted to flee on foot through a field, said police.
A nearby civilian who was working in the immediate area attempted to help officers stop the suspect, who then reportedly threatened the individual by claiming he was armed and would not hesitate to shoot if they didn’t move out of the way, said police.
“Fortunately, the suspect was quickly apprehended by officers without further incident,” said police, adding, “officers did not locate a firearm on the suspect and the civilian was not harmed.”
Mounties recovered a 2015 Chevrolet Silverado that had been reported stolen overnight from a residence in Calgary, and officers seized a quantity of drugs believed to be the following: fentanyl, 29.4 grams; methamphetamine, 40.6 grams; cocaine, 13.2 grams; and crack cocaine, 8.6 grams.
Both of the males taken into custody were reported to be Calgary residents.
Steven Blair Draxel, 29, has been charged with the following:
• possession of stolen property more than $5,000;
• possession of break and enter tools;
• resisting arrest;
• uttering threats;
• possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking; and
• failing to comply with court ordered release conditions.
Kalvin Henderson, 22, faces the following charges:
• possession of stolen property more than $5,000;
• possession of break and enter tools;
• failing to comply with probation order; and
• possession of a controlled substance.
Additionally, he had two arrest warrants issued by Calgary Police Service that were also executed.
Both of the accused had judicial interim release hearings scheduled.
Henderson was released to appear May 1 at Didsbury provincial court, while Draxel was remanded into custody to appear at the same court by CCTV on April 3 to speak to his release.
“These arrests exemplify the importance of Alberta residents calling the police when they observe suspicious people or activity in their communities,” St.-Sgt. Steve Browne, the Didsbury detachment’s commander, was quoted as saying in the press statement.
“The effort of this resident to simply call the police because they believed the suspects were suspicious resulted in two property/drug offenders being arrested and the seizure of a fairly significant amount of drugs.”
