SUNDRE — Two suspected thieves who police report fled on foot after their vehicle got stuck while attempting to flee an oil and gas lease site were not able to evade the finely honed tracking ability of man’s best friend.
At about midnight on Tuesday, Dec. 7, a member of the Sundre RCMP detachment was conducting proactive patrols in areas known for oil and gas lease site thefts.
Upon closer investigation at one of the sites, located south of Caroline, the officer observed a fence had been cut, indicating the property had been broken into, police reported in a press statement issued today (Friday, Dec. 10).
“The RCMP member went into the site and encountered a suspect vehicle that immediately fled through another area in the fence that was cut,” police reported.
“The suspect vehicle became stuck in the rough terrain that it was trying to escape through, and two suspects fled on foot.”
Police Dog Services from Red Deer was subsequently dispatched to provide assistance tracking down the suspects.
Along with his handler who was joined by the Sundre officer, police service dog Hoss began to track through the rough terrain and followed a trail for some five kilometres, ultimately locating and facilitating the arrest of the first suspect.
Hoss was then sent onto a second track from the suspect vehicle, which resulted in the other suspect being located and arrested less than one kilometre away.
Sgt. Trent Sperlie, the local detachment’s commander, said both men were found attempting to hide among the landscape in bushes.
As a result of the proactive work of the Sundre members along with the support of RCMP Police Dog Services, both suspects were charged.
Although police did not immediately know their address of residence, the sergeant confirmed both are known to the RCMP.
Richard Kenneth Hunt, 40, was charged with breaking and entering with intent; mischief over $5,000.00; flight from a peace officer; resist or obstruct a peace officer; as well as two counts of failure to comply with a release order condition. He was remanded into custody and appears in Didsbury provincial court on Dec. 13.
Darrell Robert Morin, 58, was charged with breaking and entering with intent; mischief over $5,000; flight from a peace officer; and resist or obstruct a peace officer. He was released on an undertaking to appear in Didsbury provincial court on Jan. 10.
