Big city crime has struck Penhold with an early morning drive-by shooting last week and the shutting down of a “notorious” drug house that has plagued law-abiding citizens for several months.
Meanwhile, RCMP detectives were also called to a terrifying armed robbery at the Super 8 Motel in Innisfail - less than 24 hours after the shooting incident in Penhold.
On Dec. 14, the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT) for safer communities and neighbourhoods (SCAN) announced it had boarded up a Penhold drug house at 52 Heartland Cres.
“This home has been a source of frustration for the neighbourhood with constant drug activity and related disturbances,” said RCMP Innisfail Staff Sgt. Chris Matechuk, noting RCMP were called to the residence 24 separate times over the past eight months. Matechuk added that on Aug. 7, RCMP executed a search warrant at the home and seized an array of drugs, two firearms, cash, and stolen property. Five people were arrested, including the homeowner.
As for the drive-by and armed robbery incidents, no one was hurt. Innisfail RCMP won't say at this time whether both major crimes were related but suggested the episodes may indicate an escalation of more serious crimes in the area.
“The crime stats suggest that crime is not elevating but the severity of some may have been increasing in certain areas,” said Matechuk.
He said Mounties from the Innisfail detachment received a report of gunshots from Penhold at about 5:20 a.m. on Dec. 10.
Matechuk said when RCMP arrived at a residence on Hawkridge Boulevard it was noted it had been struck multiple times as a result of the gunfire.
He said shots entered the basement from in front of the residence and passed through a series of walls.
There were two people sleeping inside the residence at the time but there were no injuries sustained as a result of the gunfire, said Matechuk.
“We are holding back what type of rifle or weapon it was,” he said when asked what type of weapon was used in the shooting.
Matechuk said investigators do not believe the incident was a random act.
“It is very seldom we believe these types of incidents are random. It is safe to say that investigators believe it was a targeted shooting,” he said.
Matechuk said the investigation is continuing, and RCMP is still searching for the culprits. In the meantime, police detectives have made neighbourhood inquiries, forensic identification specialists have probed the scene for evidence and the RCMP Canine Unit has scoured the area.
“It is still under investigation and at this point we are asking anyone if they might know something.”
Despite the drive-by shooting, several Penhold residents who spoke to the Province on Dec. 11, including the homeowner where the shooting occurred, said they still feel safe in the community.
However, the homeowner refused to comment on the incident or the investigation. Another Penhold resident said he heard the shooting incident was a case of mistaken identity.
An employee in a nearby business told the Province police came by and asked to see video surveillance footage in hopes of additional leads or details on possible suspects.
Mayor Dennis Cooper, who was at the scene on Hawkridge Boulevard on Dec. 11, said while it may appear major crimes are increasing in the area it is encouraging residents are reporting incidents when they encounter them.
“There have been instances of crime but one of the things that Penhold and the RCMP is doing an excellent job when seeing something, is reporting them,” said Cooper, emphasizing there are serious crimes in every community. “The crime rate isn't any worse in Penhold versus Blackfalds, versus Sylvan Lake, versus Innisfail in that way.
“People know that there's lights on, they're eyes looking out and people will pick up the phone and call,” he added. “It's been proven over a period of time that that type of action will deter people from wanting to come into Penhold (to commit crime), because they know that somebody's going to take their picture. Somebody is going to call the police and do something.”
Meanwhile, less than 20 hours after the Penhold shooting, at about 1 a.m. on Dec. 11, Innisfail RCMP received a report of an armed robbery at Innisfail's Super 8 Motel.
Matechuk said a man dressed in black and wearing a ski mask entered the lobby of the hotel, produced a handgun, and demanded money from the employee.
The employee complied with the assailant and put an undisclosed amount of cash into robber's bag. The bandit then left the scene in an unknown direction of travel, said Matechuk.
RCMP described the culprit as Caucasian, about 6 ft. tall, dressed completely in black, and carrying a maroon-coloured handbag.
Innisfail RCMP is asking anyone with information on either of these major crime incidents to contact the local detachment at (403) 227-3342. If citizens wish to remain anonymous, they can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or report it online at www.tipsubmit.com.
Innisfail Staff Sgt. Chris Matechuk.
"It is very seldom we believe these types of incidents are random. It is safe to say that investigators believe it was a targeted shooting."
