Following a report of suspicious activity, two suspects were arrested, and charges were laid by the Rimbey RCMP.  

Both subjects failed to attend court as required, and warrants for arrest were issued and since executed. 

On August 21, 2017 an alert citizen noticed suspicious activity and reported it to the RCMP.  

Members attended and determined that several suspects were in possession of stolen property, and were arrested on scene. 

33-year-old Leta Marie Owen of Rimbey was charged as follows:

-          Six counts of possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000

-          One count of possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000

-          Six counts of fail to comply with a Probation Order.   

Owen has been released on a Recognizance and is scheduled to appear in the Provincial Court of Alberta in Rimbey on November 3, 2017.

28-year-old Billy Kirk Okeynan (“Grab”) of Ponoka County has been charged with:

-          Eight counts of possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000

-          Two counts of possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000

-          Four counts of fail to comply with a Probation Order

-          Two counts of unauthorized possession of a firearm (from different investigations)

Okeynan is currently in custody and is scheduled to appear in court in Rimbey on October 6, 2017.

Both subjects were charged with “fail to comply with a Probation Order” as a result of the RCMP conducting checks to ensure Owen and Okeynan were complying with court imposed conditions.

As a result of this investigation several pieces of property were successfully returned to their owners, including two vehicles, a dirt bike, generators, chainsaws and a travel trailer.   

The Rimbey RCMP executed search warrants at Okeynan’s property and several (apparently) stolen items were seized, including a compressor, welder, hand tools, slip tank and other commercial/industrial tools.  

While some of this property has already been returned, the RCMP are working to identify owners of some of the remainder of this property in order to return it.

“This is an example of the great collaboration between alert community members and the RCMP” says Sergeant Kurtis Pillipow, Detachment Commander, Rimbey RCMP. 

“Advising the police when you see suspicious activity can help lead us to successful and safe outcomes”.

These charges are before the courts and further information will not be provided.  

Investigation into the stolen property remains ongoing.