In the early morning hours of Wednesday, September 28, Bashaw RCMP received a report that a significant amount of canola was stolen from a farm in Camrose County.
Bashaw RCMP and members of the Central Alberta Crime Reduction Unit (CAD CRU) deployed to the area.
At approximately 1:30 p.m., Bashaw RCMP received a report of suspicious individuals attempting to sell canola. RCMP located a vehicle and grain truck suspected in the thefts.
Bashaw RCMP and CAD CRU officers successfully arrested the driver of the vehicle in Mirror.
Upon searching the vehicle, officers located a loaded 12-gauge shotgun.
At the same time, officers from CAD CRU, supported by Bashaw and Stettler RCMP, attempted to do a traffic stop with the grain truck. The driver failed to stop for officers.
Eventually, officers successfully deployed a tire deflation device on the grain truck and, with the assistance of an RCMP helicopter and Police Dog Services, the driver was arrested.
As a result of the investigation, a stolen grain auger, a firearm, and a significant amount of canola was recovered.
Jesse James Lyman MacDonald, 33, a resident of Stettler, has been charged with a total of 14 charges, some of which include flight from a peace officer, obstructing a peace officer, possession of a weapon for dangerous purpose, trafficking in property obtained by crime.
Tristan James Ruby, 36, a resident of Stettler, has been charged with a total of 16 charges, some of which include nine counts of being unlawfully at large, possession of a weapon for dangerous purpose, and trafficking in property obtained by crime.
MacDonald and Ruby were both remanded into custody and appeared in provincial court in Red Deer on Tuesday, October 4.
As the matter is now before the courts, no further information will be released.
