INNISFAIL - Local Mounties teamed up with regional RCMP detachments to collar a pair of armed robbery suspects believed to be responsible for three firearm heists over a three-day period earlier this month.
One of the armed robberies was in Pine Lake, which is in the Innisfail RCMP's jurisdiction while the other two were in Bashaw RCMP territory.
“Bashaw, Innisfail, Red Deer City RCMP detachments, as well as the Red Deer and Innisfail general investigation sections all worked together to bring these incidents to a quick and successful conclusion,” said Sgt. Bruce Holliday, detachment commander of the Bashaw RCMP. “I am very proud of our members who work together to keep our communities safe.”
At about 4:35 p.m. on March 9, Bashaw RCMP responded to an armed robbery at the Whistle Stop Gas Station near Mirror. The following day at about 1:40 p.m. Innisfail RCMP responded to an armed robbery at the Fas Gas in Pine Lake.
RCMP Const. Mike Hibbs, of K Division's Media Relations Group, said the Pine Lake gas station was held up by two males with a firearm. He said the pair left the business with an undisclosed amount of cash and cigarettes. Hibbs said there were no injuries from the armed robbery.
"Those two suspects in the same vehicle were identified in relation for all three armed robberies," added Hibbs.
At about 9:10 p.m. on March 11 Bashaw RCMP responded to an armed robbery at the BugTussel Bar in Alix. Less than an hour later Red Deer City RCMP intercepted the suspect vehicle. In a news release, RCMP said the adult male passenger was placed under arrest. The adult male driver was arrested after a short foot chase, said the release.
Garnet Lawrence Benn, 55, and Ryan Wraight, 37, both of Red Deer, have been charged with three robberies with a firearm, six counts of pointing a firearm, three counts of possessing a weapon dangerous to the public, three charges of using a firearm in the commission of an offence, three counts of possessing a firearm while being prohibited, two charges of uttering threats, and one charge of possession of stolen property under $5,000.
Benn has been remanded into custody and is scheduled to appear in Red Deer provincial court on March 13 on the Pine Lake robbery, and Stettler provincial court on March 14 to answer to the Mirror and Alix offences.
Wraight has been remanded into custody and is scheduled to appear in Red Deer provincial court on March 25 on the Pine Lake robbery charges, and Stettler provincial court on March 28, to answer to the Mirror and Alix offences.
"The Innisfail one (Pine Lake) will go to Red Deer. That is a separate incident and Innisfail (RCMP) will deal with that, and the other two are in the Bashaw area so they will go to Stettler provincial court for those two matters," said Hibbs.
If any citizen has information about these incidents he or she is asked to contact Bashaw RCMP at 780-372-3793, Innisfail RCMP at 403-227-3342 or their local police detachment. If citizens wish to remain anonymous, they can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), or online at www.P3Tips.com
