Red Deer RCMP made a number of arrests for property crimes between March 3 and the early morning hours of March 5, all thanks to the vigilance of the public.

In two cases, citizens assisted police by detaining suspects who were attempting to flee.

While RCMP do not encourage the public to ever put themselves at risk by confronting criminals, they are grateful for the support of the public in seeing that 39 charges were sworn against seven men for property crimes over the weekend.

“These successful arrests were all made because citizens reported suspicious behaviour to the police when they saw it, and RCMP are so appreciative of the public engagement and support we’re seeing,” says Corporal Karyn Kay of the Red Deer RCMP.

“However, police urge citizens to never put themselves in potential danger by confronting a criminal. You have no idea if they’re carrying a weapon, or if they’re intoxicated and likely to react violently and unpredictably in their efforts to escape arrest. The police are trained in tactics to subdue armed or aggressive suspects. Please leave that to us – we never want to see a member of the public injured as a result of a confrontation with a criminal.”


March 3

At 3:30 pm on March 3, Red Deer RCMP responded to a report of a stolen truck that was parked in a field at Highway 11A and Range Road 273A.

The occupant of the truck was wanted on several outstanding warrants from nearby RCMP detachments, and was taken into custody without incident.

The truck had been reported stolen out of the Sundre area earlier the same morning.

26 year old Joseph Murdock Hayden faces the following charges in addition to any oustanding warrant charges:

· Criminal Code 355(a) – Possession of stolen property over $5,000
· Criminal Code 117.01(1) – Possession of ammunition while prohibited by reason of order
· Criminal Code 117.01(1) – Possession of bear spray while prohibited by reason of order
· Criminal Code 145(3) – Fail to comply with conditions X 3
· CDSA 4(1) – Possession of Schedule 1 drug (methamphetamine)

Hayden was remanded in custody and made his first court appearance in Red Deer on March 6.


March 3

Shortly after 4 pm on March 3, Red Deer RCMP responded to a report of suspicious activity downtown in the area of northbound Gaetz Avenue and Ross Street.

On arrival, RCMP located a suspect who was wanted on an outstanding warrant and who was in possession of small amounts of ammunition, methadone and marijuana, in violation of probation conditions.

20 year old Braeden Jacob Lewis faces the following charges in addition to the outstanding warrant:

· Criminal Code 733.1(1) – Breach of probation X 4

Lewis made his first court appearance in Red Deer on March 6.


March 4

Shortly after 1 pm on March 4, Red Deer RCMP arrested two men as they attempted to sell a stolen truck after arranging the sale online.

RCMP located one suspect in the Village Mall parking lot, where he had arranged to meet a buyer who did not know the vehicle was stolen.

When police arrived, the suspect attempted to flee police on foot but was detained by a citizen and taken into custody by police.

The second suspect was identified through the course of the investigation and arrested at a residence in the Highland Green neighbourhood shortly afterward.

31 year old Matthew Douglas Bauer faces the following charges:

· Criminal Code 355(a) – Possession of stolen property over $5,000
· Criminal Code 145(3) – Fail to comply with conditions X 2

Bauer will appear in court in Red Deer on March 8.


31 year old Brandyn John Beach faces the following charges:

· Criminal Code 355.4 – Trafficking in stolen property over $5,000

Beach was remanded and made his first court appearance in Red Deer on March 6.



March 4

Shortly after 2 pm on March 4, RCMP responded to a report of a suspicious car in a parking lot on Halman Crescent. RCMP arrived on scene and determined the SUV was stolen.

As police contained the scene in preparation to arrest the male occupant of the vehicle, two citizens approached with a second suspect they had detained after catching him in the act of breaking into a nearby residence.

That suspect broke free and attempted to flee police; after a brief foot chase and attempts to resist arrest, he was taken into custody.

The first suspect in the stolen car also attempted to resist arrest but was taken into custody after a brief altercation.

RCMP seized a number of weapons (knife, bat, axe) from the vehicle that the first suspect was prohibited from possessing due to court-imposed conditions.

32 year old Aaron Frederick Brown (suspect 1) faces the following charges:

· Criminal Code 355(b) – Possession of stolen property under $5,000 X 4
· Criminal Code 145(3) – Fail to comply with conditions X 4
· Criminal Code 129(a) – Resist peace officer
· Criminal Code 450(b) – Possession of counterfeit currency (US $50)
· CDSA 4(1) – Possession of Schedule 1 drug (methamphetamine)

Brown made his first court appearance in Red Deer on March 6.


23 year old Jesse Lee Sprague (suspect 2) faces the following charges:

· Criminal Code 348(1)(a) – Break and enter
· Criminal Code 129(a) – Resist peace officer
· Criminal Code 450(b) – Possession of counterfeit currency X 2 (1 US $50, 21 CN $50)

Sprague made his first court appearance in Red Deer on March 6 and will appear in court again on April 3.



March 5

Red Deer RCMP arrested a man shortly after 5 am on March 5 after responding to a report of a suspicious vehicle and locating the suspect parked in a stolen SUV in a lot at 67 Street and Taylor Drive.

The suspect assaulted two police officers before being taken into custody; both police officers sustained minor injuries that didn’t require medical attention.

The vehicle had been stolen out of Red Deer on February 9 as it sat unlocked and idling.

25 year old Martin Victor Talbot faces the following charges:

· Criminal Code 253(1)(a) – Operate motor vehicle while impaired by drug
· Criminal Code 254(5) – Refuse to provide urine sample
· Criminal Code 270(1)(a) – Assault peace officer X 2
· Criminal Code 355(a) – Possession of stolen property over $5,000
· Criminal Code 259(4) – Drive while disqualified
· Traffic Safety Act 54(1)(a) – Drive uninsured motor vehicle
· Traffic Safety Act 51(c) – Operate motor vehicle contrary to restriction/ condition
· Traffic Safety Act 52(1)(a) – Operate motor vehicle without registration

Talbot will appear in court in Red Deer at 9:30 am on March 7.

“RCMP thank Red Deerians for the active role they play in locating stolen vehicles and reporting suspicious persons and behaviours,” says Kay.

“It’s clear from the number of property crime arrests and charges we saw between Thursday and Sunday that citizen engagement plays a key role in the RCMP’s crime prevention and enforcement work.”