RED DEER – A former resident of Olds who is well known to police in Didsbury, Olds and Sundre has been charged with multiple drug and Criminal Code offences following a take down that involved several police units from different jurisdictions, including Innisfail RCMP.
“A great deal of effort and resources were used to safely arrest this repeat offender who has previously demonstrated a willingness to put the public at risk while fleeing apprehension,” said RCMP Inspector Heidi Ravenhill in a media release. “Focusing our policing resources at offenders such as this truly does have an impact on our community.”
RCMP Const. Cory Riggs told the Albertan that around 10 a.m. on May 29, police officers from the Red Deer Crime Reduction Team observed a known repeat offender in north Red Deer operating a motor vehicle while prohibited.
Riggs earlier said in the media release that due to the offender’s history of dangerous driving and flight from police, including ramming a police vehicle, RCMP conducted surveillance and brought in additional resources.
These included Calgary Police Services HAWCS helicopter, Innisfail RCMP, RCMP Police Dog Services, Alberta RCMP Emergency Response Team, and RCMP Central Alberta District Crime Reduction Team, said Riggs.
He said the suspect was safely arrested shortly before noon hour in Innisfail, with the assistance of Innisfail RCMP, after he exited the motor vehicle.
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Riggs said RCMP obtained a search warrant for the vehicle the suspect was driving and as a result located:
• small amounts of cocaine, xanax, GHB, and oxycodone;
• more than 1.3 kilograms of methamphetamine; and
• a loaded handgun.
He said RCMP have charged 38-year-old Red Deer resident Mitchell Lewis Engler with:
• possession of body armour;
• two counts of driving while prohibited;
• six weapons offences;
• five counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking in a controlled substance;
• possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000; and
• possession of a controlled substance
Riggs said Engler was taken before a justice of the peace and remanded into custody with his next court date set for June 4 at the Alberta Court of Justice in Red Deer.
