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Two Hills RCMP Lay Charges in Carjacking and Pharmacy Break-in

Two Hills RCMP - Submitted

On Nov. 16, 2021, at 5:46 am, the Two Hills RCMP received a 911 call of a carjacking of a pick-up truck with a firearm in the area of Highway 29 near Mundare, Alta. Weather at the time was severe and included heavy winds, snowfall and icy roadways. Two Hills RCMP responded and while enroute received information that a second carjacking had occurred at the same location and a car had been stolen. Upon arrival, police located the carjacked pickup truck and an additional pickup. One suspect was arrested at the scene.

Based on evidence at the scene police believe that the suspects were involved in a break and enter to a pharmacy in Mundare that had been reported to the Vegreville RCMP on Nov. 16, 2021, at 3:28 a.m., where a large quantity of drugs had been stolen. The break and enter had also involved a stolen pick-up truck being driven into the premises. That truck was later found burned in a rural area.

At approximately 8:45 am, Two Hills RCMP located the stolen car abandoned in the area of Range Road 190 and Township Road 580. Further investigation found that a Good Samaritan assisted the suspects and gave them a ride to Waskatenau, Alta. The Eastern Alberta District RCMP Crime Reduction Unit, Saddle Lake Crime Reduction Unit, the RCMP Police Dog Service, and Smoky Lake RCMP attended a motel in Waskatenau and arrested the remaining three suspects. At the time of the arrests, a shotgun and ammunition were also seized by police.

Tyrone Jermaine Hunter (28) of Edmonton; Daniel John Sunday (40) of Whitefish Lake First Nations, Alta.; Kody Kruz Baptiste (27) of Vilna, Alta.; and Miriam Nicole Bruno (28) of Saddle Lake Cree Nation, Alta., are charged with: • Theft of a truck • Break, enter, and commit theft • Arson • Possession of property obtained by crime

Hunter, Sunday, and Bruno are further charged with two counts of Robbery with a Firearm and several other firearms-related offences.

Kody Baptiste is also charged with three counts of Failing to Comply with Release Order. Daniel Sunday was charge with two counts of failing to comply with a release order.

All four are scheduled to appear in Vegreville Provincial Court on Jan. 10, 2022.

Two Hills RCMP Continue to Investigate Andrew Fire Hall Break-in

Michelle Pinon - News Advertiser

Two Hills RCMP Sgt. Robert Daisley said they are continuing to investigate the break and enter at the Andrew Fire Hall which occurred during the night of November 27-28.

“At this time there are no suspects and any information that members of the public can contribute would be appreciated,” stated Sgt. Daisley.

Members of the public can phone the Two Hills RCMP detachment or Crime Stoppers if they have any information related to the crime.

Sgt. Daisley said he is aware of at least two other recent breakins at fire halls within a couple of hour’s drive of here.

While the Andrew Fire Hall is owned by the Village of Andrew, operations fall under the Lamont County Regional Fire Services. Other fire halls that fall under their umbrella include: Bruderheim, Lamont, Chipman, Mundare and Andrew.

Regional Fire Chief Shayne Milliken was unavailable for comment, but Lamont County Communications Coordinator Jay Zaal said the value of the property stolen was between $40,000 and $60,000. Zaal said, a Jaws of Life vehicle extraction unit and other miscellaneous items including a mechanics tool set were stolen.

While the loss covered through insurance, Zaal said the replacement products need to be ordered and shipped, and that can take time to fulfill.

Zaal said, “It is disheartening because a lot of these types of tools were fundraised for and purchased using this and taxpayer funds. In Andrew, the challenge is having the specialty equipment and vehicle extraction tools available for immediate response. There will be logistics of getting these tools to an incident, and that could affect the lives of people travelling through that area.

He confirmed there were two previous break-ins at other fire halls, (Bruderheim and Mundare). “We are working on measures to increase security around this and for the Andrew fire hall.”

Andrew Mayor Barry Goertz said he knows of nine other fire stations in the area that have had break-ins. He said they need to get smarter faster than the criminals and there will be upgrades to the security system. As to how much that will cost or how long it will take to put that into place is unknown at this time.

Goertz said firefighters feel mentally let down and cannot understand how criminals can put communities at risk. “But when you look at the criminal element they have no morals or ethics.”

As a Village, Goertz said they have notified their neighbours of the situation and assistance will be provided if they need help.

Mundare Fire Chief Glenda Dales commented that, “Fire departments across the Province are being broken into too frequently. Mundare Station has been broken into several times.

Radios seems to be the prime target previously, but over the last few years they have focused on extrication equipment. Security systems did its job and the last break- in; the alarms scared the intruder(s) off with just a costly cut off saw leaving the extrication equipment by the door.

Our fire stations are our home away from home and when someone breaks into our home it is a violation of our home. Extrication equipment is stolen and used to break into banks (ATM’s) and buildings such as pharmacies.

A good portion of this equipment has been purchased through the hard efforts of the fire fighters and often their family members fundraising to raise the money for this equipment. Whether it is through fund raising or community tax dollars - it is now using money that should have been spent on other tools/ equipment or training

When these tools are stolen, yes we have insurance, but it takes time to process claims and then to purchase new equipment. This is not like going to Walmart and purchasing a new fridge or stove.

Without our specialized tools we cannot do our job effectively. This is very frustrating as we pride ourselves in the work that we do and the service we provide to our communities. If someone is trapped in a vehicle we now have to wait for our neighboring Brothers and Sisters from the next Fire Department to respond with their equipment. Time is critical when someone is trapped in a vehicle and needs to be extricated. It now leaves their community vulnerable.

Maybe the next time one of these intruders go to steal equipment they might consider it might be them in a vehicle accident and requires extrication and we don’t have tools and have to wait. It might be their Mother or Father or other family members. I doubt they will consider that but we can hope. One thing about firefighters is we don’t give up. We have a very strong family support from one another.

There is also a strong support from other Departments not just within our County but all over the province to allow us to get the job done. Other Departments often loan tools and sometimes a supplier will have a demo that they can loan as well.”