INNISFAIL – Mounties captured two alleged burglars after the alleged culprits got stuck in the snow during a getaway attempt.
They are also saying the arrests were the result of ongoing cooperation and partnership with the public.
“Cooperation between the RCMP and the public is instrumental to the success of our crime reduction efforts,” said Innisfail RCMP Sgt. Lori Eiler. “The simple act of reporting any suspicious activity and/or crime provides us with the necessary information by which we gather intelligence.”
At about 9 a.m. on March 18 Innisfail RCMP responded to a break-and-enter and theft report from a rural oil site on Rge. Rd. 263, north of Highway 590 in Red Deer County. Eiler said the suspects were reportedly driving a dually vehicle and had stolen black copper wire and oil site batteries.
While en route to investigate RCMP received a second call of a break and enter in progress at another nearby site, said Eiler. She said the RCMP met with the complainant who stated the vehicle was still at the site.
RCMP attended the site and located a white dually cube van matching descriptions given by witnesses.
Eiler said RCMP approached the van and the driver put the vehicle into drive and pushed the gas pedal to the floor but became stuck in the snow.
She said two males were arrested without incident at the scene. Eiler said a subsequent search of the van revealed it was full of property.
Michael Levesque, 43, of Red Deer County, has been charged with mischief under $5,000, break and enter with intent to commit theft, two counts of possessing stolen property under $5,000 and trespassing.
Joshua Desjarlais, 39, of Red Deer has been charged with mischief under $5,000, break and enter with intent to commit theft, three counts of possessing stolen property under $5,000, trespassing, breach of probation, driving while disqualified and possessing a scheduled substance.
Desjarlais was scheduled to appear for a bail hearing on March 20 in Red Deer provincial court.
Lavesque was released by a justice of the peace with conditions to appear in Red Deer provincial court on March 23.
If any citizen has any information related to this crime or others they are asked to contact the Innisfail RCMP at 403-227-3342, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), or by Internet at www.tipsubmit.com
