INNISFAIL – Local Mounties, through Project Blue Ghost, have busted up a major property crime ring with four suspects facing a total of 99 Criminal Code charges, including an Innisfailian with 69 and a Penholder with nine.
And there may be more charges coming.
“Innisfail RCMP, as well as Red Deer GIS continue to investigate numerous files in relation to Project Blue Ghost, as well as complaints related that have occurred in Red Deer (city),” said Innisfail RCMP Staff Sgt. Chris Matechuk in a media release on Tuesday (Aug. 28). "These are just initial charges and we've got a lot of work to do."
He added in a later interview the latest bust was high priority in terms of cracking down on the long-standing property crime epidemic that has plagued Innisfail and area over the past two years.
"This is large. It's very significant. A lot of man-hours and a lot of work was put in by a lot of members. It solved a lot of recent crime, the two break and enters at the Aspen Heights residents' in town, and it solved potential crimes too because we intercepted plans for future break and enters that were thwarted in town and our direct area," said Matechuk, adding police believe the suspects were major criminal players in the town and the region. "They were very well involved into a lot of offences into Red Deer and the area. It goes beyond just our borders."
During the week of August 18 to 27 Innisfail RCMP responded to a large number of calls for service, said Matechuk. He said following those responses Innisfail RCMP developed Project Blue Ghost, and were assisted by the Red Deer city RCMP’s General Investigation Section, Forensic Identification Services and Police Dog Services. He added the investigation was also aided by numerous tips from the community.
The successful probe began with the local Mounties investigating a break-in to an open residential garage on Aug. 18. A vehicle was stolen. Two days later suspects returned to the home and observed the homeowner leaving. Using the garage door opener that was previously stolen from the vehicle, they entered the home and stole a number of items from the home, including firearms.
Matechuk said on Aug. 24 a male contacted Innisfail RCMP to report that two armed and disguised males entered his home in Penhold and assaulted him and stole his vehicle, as well as some money.
He said the next day the Innisfail Bottle Depot was broken into and an undisclosed amount of money was stolen. On Aug. 26, Mounties executed a search warrant for a residence on Minto Street in Penhold.
It was then Project Blue Ghost was launched and four people were nabbed in connection to a total of 99 Criminal Code charges.
Dylan Steinbach, 26 , of Innisfail has been charged with robbery with a firearm, extortion with a firearm, disguise with intent, four counts of break and enter, six possession of stolen property offences, resisting arrest, 28 counts of breach of court-ordered conditions, and assault causing bodily harm.
Steinbach has been remanded to appear in Red Deer provincial court on Aug. 31.
Michael Lawrence, 43, of Penhold , has been charged with six firearms offences, two counts of possession of stolen property and possession of a controlled substance.
Lawrence has been remanded to appear in Red Deer provincial court on Aug. 28.
Daniel Buehler, 23, of Red Deer, has been charged with three break and enters, possession of property over $5,000, theft of a motor vehicle and two counts of possession of a firearm contrary to a prohibition order.
Buehler has been remanded to appear in Red Deer provincial court on Aug. 29.
Brianna Carroll, 23, of Red Deer, has been charged with possession of a controlled substance, two counts of breach of a probation order and possession of stolen property.
Carroll has been remanded to appear in Red Deer provincial court on Aug. 28.
