SUNDRE — A police investigation involving two RCMP detachments and the Southern Alberta District Crime Reduction Team has led to the arrest of two suspected thieves.
On Thursday, Sept. 2, Mounties from the crime reduction team, in collaboration with members of the Didsbury and Sundre RCMP detachments, located a truck that had fled from Didsbury RCMP the previous day at a motel in Sundre.
“The investigation determined a female and male associated to the truck had used a stolen Alberta driver's licence to check into the motel,” reads a portion of a press release issued today (Sept. 9) by police.
“The male and female were arrested upon exiting the motel without incident.”
Mounties subsequently executed a search warrant on the motel room and located stolen identification, a stolen credit card, as well as ammunition and a loaded, sawed-off shotgun, police said.
As a result, the following charges were laid against Ashley Zielke, 36, of Red Deer:
• flight from police;
• dangerous operation of a motor vehicle;
• theft of credit card;
• possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000;
• two counts of failure to comply with a probation order;
• possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose;
• unauthorized possession of a firearm;
• possession of a firearm with tampered serial number; and
• unsafe storage of firearm.
Zielke was released from custody following a judicial interim hearing and has been scheduled to appear in Cochrane provincial court on Tuesday, Sept. 21.
As well, Derik McCorriston, 30, of no fixed address, was charged with:
• possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose;
• possession of a firearm with a tampered serial number;
• unauthorized possession of firearm; and
• unsafe storage of firearm.
McCorriston was also released from custody following a judicial interim hearing and is scheduled to appear in Didsbury provincial court on Monday, Oct. 4.
The public is encouraged to report any criminal or suspicious activity they’ve observed to their local RCMP detachment.
“Reports tell us where to look, who to look for, and where to patrol in the future,” said police.
However, people should call 911 in the event they witness a crime in progress.
Callers who want to remain anonymous can call Crime Stopper at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS). Alternatively, information can be submitted online at www.P3Tips.com or by using the P3 Tips app, which is available through the Apple App or Google Play Store.
