INNISFAIL – Mounties arrested a “known” suspect from Innisfail last week in connection to a loaded prohibited weapon and sizable quantity of methamphetamine in his vehicle.
The suspect was then released from custody by a justice of the peace. He is scheduled to appear in Red Deer provincial court July 24.
Nevertheless, Innisfail RCMP is pleased the bust was made as the allegations are considered “concerning.”
“It is absolutely concerning and a huge public safety risk to have someone travelling with an improperly stored firearm such as that, being a prohibited weapon and having it loaded to boot is a massive concern for public safely,” said Innisfail RCMP Sgt. Lori Eiler. “It ended really well. The members did a great job of executing a really safe stop and we brought him into custody, so that is good. One more gun off the road.”
As for the meth seizure, Eiler said the illicit drug continues to be a major escalating problem in the area.
“It’s a huge issue. It seems we are seeing it more and more and more with traffic stops,” said Eiler. “We are seeing methamphetamine and firearms together, and those two things should never be together.”
Eiler said Sylvan Lake Mounties received a call from the Red Deer County Patrol on May 8 about a vehicle with a male sleeping behind the wheel near the boundary of Innisfail and Sylvan Lake detachment areas.
She said the Red Deer County peace officer also observed a firearm in the back seat.
Eiler said the vehicle became mobile once RCMP members began to converge on the area. She said the suspect was then covertly followed into Innisfail by Sylvan Lake and Innisfail detachment members, police officers from Red Deer Police Dog Service, GIS members from Innisfail and Sylvan Lake, as well police officers from the K Division Member Operational Support Service and the National Weapon Enforcement Support Team. Shortly after arriving into town the suspect was arrested.
Eiler said police seized a sawed off SKS rifle loaded with 32 rounds of ammunition and a quarter ounce of methamphetamine out of the vehicle.
Keira Vandervliet, 38, of Innisfail, has been charged with:
• possessing a firearm without a licence
• possessing a prohibited device without a licence
• possessing a firearm in a vehicle
• possessing a loaded prohibited firearm
• possessing a firearm obtained by crime
• careless storage of a firearm
* two counts of possessing a weapon for dangerous purpose
• possessing methamphetamine
Vandervliet was then held for a judicial interim release hearing and released.
If any citizen has information about any criminal activity, please contact the Innisfail RCMP Detachment at 403-227-3341 or your local police service. If citizens wish to remain anonymous they can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), online at www.P3Tips.com
