Strathmore RCMP General Duty and Crime Reduction Unit (CRU) members responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle in a field in rural Wheatland County which resulted in the arrest of two individuals and the seizure of a quantity of drugs and weapons.
On Friday, February 3 at approximately 9:30 a.m. members responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle in a field stuck in the snow in the area of Range Road 234 and Township Road 244 in rural Wheatland County, north of Highway 1.
Responding members checked the occupants who were wanted on Canada Wide Parole Warrants and determined the vehicle they were in was stolen. Both were arrested.
Upon a search, methamphetamine was found. A further search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of 190 grams of suspected methamphetamine with a potential street value of $19,000; $22,275 in cash; a replica handgun; numerous edged and impact weapons; and government identification which did not belong to either subject.
Both males were transported to the Strathmore Detachment where they were held for bail hearings.
Christopher Lindgren, a 31 year old resident of Bezanson, a hamlet in northern Alberta approximately 35 kilometres east of Grande Prairie, and Nathan Piche, a 30 year old resident of Cold Lake in northern Alberta approximately 190 kilometres north of Lloydminster, were charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking; Possession of Items Used for Trafficking in a Controlled Substance; Possession of a Prohibited Weapon; 14 counts of Possession of a Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose; Obstructing a Peace Officer; and two counts of Unlawful Possession of Government Documents.
Nathan Piche was charged with additional offences of Possession of a Firearm Contrary to a Prohibition Order; Illegal Possession of Government Documents; and five other offences under the Traffic Safety Act relating to no insurance, registration infractions, unlawful use of license plate, and unauthorized operation of a motor vehicle.
Both men were remanded into custody on their new charges for future court appearances.
At the time of this encounter, both men were parolees who fled from a community residential facility which resulted in the issuance of Canada Wide Warrants.
