RCMP say their Southern Alberta Crime Reduction Team (SACRT) has made great progress in Olds and area since its formation.
Police say by analyzing crime data, calls for service and with help from the community, the SACRT identified the Olds, Sundre and Didsbury areas as a “crime hot spot.”
"Several thefts and property offences in the rural area identified a trend which the SACRT set out to change. In late February, members of the SACRT set to work identifying known offenders in the area and gathering evidence from numerous offences in order to take enforcement action," a news release says.
On March 15, SACRT charged Ron Hanlon, 43, of Olds with four counts of failing to comply with probation.
"Hanlon was located at his residence through surveillance by the SACRT," the news release says. "Hanlon was apprehended as he attempted to flee out the back of the residence."
On March 19, Hanlon entered a guilty plea to the failing to comply charges and was sentenced to 30 days in jail.
On March 13, SACRT arrested and charged Shaylene Kendra McCauley, 19, with failing to comply with a recognizance.
At time of the arrest, McCauley was on release for charges of possession of a stolen vehicle. McCauley has been released from custody and is scheduled for trial on July 12 in Didsbury provincial court.
Also on March 13, SACRT conducted surveillance on two repeat offenders, Austin Cody Jay Graham, 22, and Desire Jade Fahlman, 23.
Graham and Fahlman were seen driving a vehicle that had been reported stolen from a rural property. Officers followed the vehicle and made the arrests when they stopped for gas in Bowden.
This was the second time Fahlman had been charged by SACRT for possession of a stolen vehicle. She has been released from custody and was scheduled to appear on March 26 in Didsbury provincial court. Graham has been remanded into custody and was also scheduled to appear in Didsbury provincial court on March 26.
On Feb. 27, evidence was gathered indicating that Amber Rose Johnson, 23, of Sundre was in possession of a vehicle stolen from a farm near Didsbury.
SACRT members determined that Johnson and the stolen vehicle were in Calgary and shared this information with the Calgary Police Service. As a result, Johnson was arrested by Calgary police and charged with possession of a stolen vehicle.
“These arrests are an example of what our team is doing to address the concerns of rural residents,” says SACRT commander Sgt. Brad White.
“This hot spot and the people responsible were identified by our analyst, thanks to citizens calling their local detachments. Those calls and tips from the public are a huge help and we can make a pretty big impact with a handful of arrests.”
