A man and a woman face a total of almost 200 criminal charges after Red Deer RCMP executed search warrants on a storage locker in north Red Deer on November 5 and a residence on November 22, seizing 29 firearms, four crossbows, ammunition and stolen property including dirt bikes, identity documents and electronics; the searches are part of a larger crime reduction strategy that focuses on identifying prolific offenders and conducting targeted, intelligence-led investigations.

Shortly before 6 pm on November 5, RCMP officers from the Red Deer Community Response Unit (CRU) executed a search warrant on a storage locker located at 4904 79 Street in Red Deer. Police officers seized 25 rifles, three shotguns, four crossbows and two pellet guns. Police also seized tools, bicycles, dirt bikes, chainsaws, a generator and electronics equipment. The firearms were stored in a large hockey bag, a sleeping bag, a ski bag and gun cases. At this point, Red Deer RCMP have determined that eight of the firearms were reported stolen, one of the dirt bikes was reported stolen out of Red Deer on October 28 in a break and enter, and the other dirt bike was reported stolen out of Lacombe area during a break and enter on November 1; RCMP continue to investigate regarding the other pieces of recovered property.

On November 22, RCMP officers from Red Deer GIS conducted a second search warrant at a residence on 58 Avenue in Highland Green and seized a shotgun that was stored under the couch in the living room, a magazine from another firearm, a replica firearm, methamphetamine, large amounts of ammunition and numerous other items including a laptop and an Xbox that had been reported stolen in several recent residential break and enters, and stolen identity documents.

“These seizures, arrests and charges are a significant example of the crime reduction work we do every day in Red Deer, identifying and targeting repeat offenders through criminal analysis, and conducting strategic, targeted enforcement initiatives,” says Superintendent Ken Foster of the Red Deer RCMP. “The great work done by our Red Deer police officers took 29 firearms out of the hands of criminals and broke up an organized network that relies on regular property crime activity for their livelihood.”

25 year old Andrew Scott Charpentier faces a total of 100 charges regarding the November 5 and 22 warrants:

  • Criminal Code 91(1) – Unauthorized possession of firearm X 29
  • Criminal Code 96(1) – Possession stolen firearm X 28
  • Criminal Code 86(1) – Careless use of firearm or ammunition X 28
  • Criminal Code 91(2) – Unauthorized possession of weapon
  • Criminal Code 108(1)(b) – Possession of firearm with altered serial number
  • Criminal Code 56.1 – Illegal possession or trafficking in government documents X 3
  • Criminal Code 145(5.1) – Fail to comply with undertaking X 2
  • Criminal Code 355(b) – Possession of stolen property under $5,000 X 7
  • CDSA 4(1) – Possession of Schedule I substance (crystal meth)

Charpentier was remanded and appeared in court in Red Deer on December 5; he is scheduled to appear again on December 12 at 9:30 am on both files. 

25 year old Kelsey Pearl Torpe faces a total of 98 charges regarding the November 5 and 22 warrants:

  • Criminal Code 91(1) – Unauthorized possession of firearm X 29
  • Criminal Code 96(1) – Possession stolen firearm X 28
  • Criminal Code 86(1) – Careless use of a firearm X 28
  • Criminal Code 91(2) – Unauthorized possession of weapon
  • Criminal Code 108(1)(b) – Possession of firearm with altered serial number
  • Criminal Code 56.1 – Illegal possession or trafficking in government documents X 3
  • Criminal Code 355(b) – Possession of stolen property under $5,000 X 7
  • CDSA 4(1) – Possession of Schedule I substance (crystal meth)

Torpe is scheduled to appear in court in Red Deer on December 12 at 9:30 am on one of the two search warrant files and on December 19 at 9:30 am on the second.

The Red Deer RCMP crime reduction model is a targeted, evidence-based approach to policing. It uses intelligence-driven analysis to identify repeat offenders, prolific addresses and crime hot spots, and conduct targeted enforcement initiatives with the goal of reducing crime in Red Deer. General duty watches and specialized units work together with Parole and Probation to identify and monitor prolific offenders.