SUNDRE — A local male with an existing history of being arrested over property crimes faces a fresh set of charges after a recent break and enter at a lease site.
On the morning of Wednesday, Aug. 4, the Sundre RCMP detachment responded to a break and enter at a lease site southwest of town.
During the course of the theft, the suspect allegedly stole a vehicle that was equipped with a GPS tracking device, Mounties reported in a press release.
“The vehicle was then tracked to a rural property in the Bearberry area,” said police.
Along with assistance from members of the Didsbury RCMP detachment as well as RCMP Air Services and Police Dog Services, Sundre officers attended the scene and subsequently arrested two individuals.
“A search warrant was executed on the property, and with the assistance of K Division Auto Theft Unit, police identified and seized stolen property items with an estimated value in excess of $150,000.”
Daniel Peter Conway, 25, who lives near Sundre in Mountain View County, was charged with:
• break and enter to commit;
• alter/deface/destroy a vehicle identification number;
• possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000;
• four counts of possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000; and
• failure to comply with undertaking.
Conway had also been charged earlier this spring and had at that time been released on bail with several conditions after being arrested for a number of offences including breaking and entering with intent, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, and assault on a police officer with a weapon.
“We can now probably label him as a prolific offender,” said Cpl. Resus Organ, acting commander of the Sundre RCMP.
“I think we’re over 30 times dealing with Daniel this year alone. We had barely ever heard of him, and then it started in mid-2020,” said Organ when asked if Conway could be referred to as a person who is known to police.
“We have a ton of calls for him the last eight months. I stopped counting at 20-some-odd this year alone,” the corporal said.
“He grew up in the county near Sundre. He’s a local guy,” he said.
An arrest warrant for Conway, who had been released on a $1,000 cash recognizance, was subsequently issued after he failed to appear for his scheduled court date after being charged earlier this month, he said.
“He was arrested last night in Olds,” Organ said on Friday, Aug. 20 during an interview. “Far as I know, he’s currently in custody awaiting a bail hearing.”
Additionally, Paige Kendra Patterson, a 27-year-old female from Sundre, was charged with:
• break and enter to commit;
• alter/deface/destroy a Vehicle Identification Number;
• possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000; and
• four counts of possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000.
“She’s known to us, but not for criminal activity,” said Organ, adding all of her charges were recent and that the accused did not seem to have a history.
Although the investigation remained ongoing, police expressed gratitude for the public’s vigilance and assistance. Anyone who has video surveillance of a dark green 1999 Dodge Ram pickup truck conducting suspicious activity in the Mountain View County and Clearwater County between the evening of Aug. 3 and the morning of Aug. 4 is asked to contact the Sundre RCMP at 403-638-3675.
