UPDATE – Second Arrest

From Rocky Mountain House RCMP:

A second male has been arrested, charged and remains in custody following an incident which saw a Rocky Mountain House RCMP officer assaulted and bear sprayed.

On November 2, 2018 the Rocky Mountain House RCMP identified the second male involved in the incident which occurred on October 24.

37-year-old Peter Gopher of no fixed address is charged with resist police officer, possession of stolen property over $5,000, possession of stolen property under $5,000 and possession of a controlled substance.  

He is also facing charges under the Traffic Safety Act.

Gopher remains in custody pending a court appearance via CCTV on November 7, 2018 in Rocky Mountain House Provincial Court.

 

From Rocky Mountain House RCMP:

A male remains in custody following an incident which saw a Rocky Mountain House RCMP officer assaulted and bear sprayed during his arrest.

On October 24, 2018, a male was reported to have stolen several bottles of liquor from the Great Canadian Liquor store.  The male fled in a stolen Chevrolet Colorado pickup truck.  On October 27, a member of the Rocky Mountain House RCMP conducted a traffic stop in the neighbourhood of Creekside with the same stolen vehicle.  Two suspects were associated to the vehicle, both of whom resisted arrest and an altercation ensued.  During the altercation, the RCMP member was bear sprayed, and both suspects fled, with one driving away in the stolen vehicle.

On October 29, as the result of a targeted search, a member of the Rocky Mountain House RCMP observed the same stolen vehicle on the Sunchild First Nation and noted a male exiting the vehicle.  A foot pursuit ensued, resulting in the male being arrested inside a residence.  The male resisted arrest and assaulted the arresting RCMP member. The male provided a false name after his arrest. He was lodged in cells at the Rocky Mountain House RCMP Detachment.

At the time of his arrest, the male was also wanted on arrest warrants out of other jurisdictions.

Christopher Wickins-Pearse, 22, of no fixed address, Alberta, has been charged with the following criminal offences:

  • ·Possession of Property Obtained by Crime over $5,000 (4 Counts)
  • ·Theft under $5,000
  • ·Breach of Probation (16 Counts)
  • ·Possession of Property Obtained by Crime under $5,000 (5 Counts)
  • ·Possession of Weapon for Dangerous Purpose (3 Counts)
  • ·Resist Arrest (2 Counts)
  • ·Assaulting a Peace Officer
  • ·Assaulting Peace Officer with Weapon
  • ·Assaulting Peace Officer Causing Bodily Harm
  • ·Administering Noxious Thing
  • ·Unauthorized Operation of a Motor Vehicle
  • ·Break and Enter with Intent
  • ·Possession of a Controlled Substance
  • ·Identity Fraud
  • ·Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm (5 Counts)
  • ·Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm in Motor Vehicle
  • ·Possession of Prohibited Firearm with Ammunition

Wickins-Pearse will remain in custody until his appearance in Alberta Provincial Court, in Rocky Mountain House, on November 7, 2018.

The second suspect in this incident has not been identified, and the investigation remains ongoing.  Anyone with any information is requested to contact the Rocky Mountain House RCMP.

The Rocky Mountain House RCMP is dedicated to apprehending and disrupting criminal activity in the Town of Rocky Mountain House, Clearwater County, and on the Sunchild, O'Chiese, and Bighorn First Nations.  "The Rocky Mountain House RCMP Detachment will relentlessly continue to identify and pursue multi-jurisdictional repeat offenders and ensure they are brought to Justice", says Sgt. Jay Penner of the Rocky Mountain House RCMP Detachment.