Wetaskiwin RCMP Crime Reduction Unit arrest armed drug dealers after they fail to pay for oil change
On Sept. 18, 2024, Wetaskiwin RCMP received a report of a group of individuals who had just received an oil change and intentionally left without paying.
Members of the Wetaskiwin RCMP Crime Reduction Unit quickly located the vehicle and initiated a traffic sop. The vehicle went into reverse and rammed the officers vehicle.
Despite this, police were able to approach the vehicle and safely arrest all four occupants including the driver who attempted to flee on foot.
A search of the vehicle revealed;
- a shot gun;
- a loaded semi auto assault rifle;
- a modified rifle;
- approximately 15 grams of pre measured and packaged Fentanyl;
- approximately 100 Gabapentin pills.
RCMP have charged Samson Cree Nation resident, 25-year-old Matthew James Crane-Watchmaker, with:
Possession for the purpose of trafficking in a controlled substance
- Weapons offences (x5);
- Possession of a firearm contrary to order;
- Fail to comply with a release order (x3).
Crane-Watchmaker was taken before a Justice of the Peace and remanded into custody with his next court date set for Sept. 24, 2024, at the Alberta Court of Justice in Wetaskiwin.
RCMP have charged Ermineskin Cree Nation resident, 22-year-old Memphis Mackinaw, with:
- Weapons offences (x5);
- Possession of a firearm contrary to order (x2);
- Escape lawful custody ;
- Assault peace officer with a weapon.
Mackinaw was taken before a Justice of the Peace and remanded into custody with his next court date set for Oct. 3, 2024, at the Alberta Court of Justice in Wetaskiwin.
RCMP have charged Mackwacis resident, 23-year-old Daleena Cedar Soosay-Samson, with five weapons offences.
Soosay-Samson was taken before a Justice of the Peace and remanded into custody with her next court date set for Sept. 23, 2024, at the Alberta Court of Justice in St. Albert.
RCMP have charged Maskwacis resident, 19-year-old Shane Everette Morin, with:
- Weapon offences (x5);
- Possession of a firearm contrary to order.
Morin was taken before a Justice of the Peace and remanded into custody with his next court date set for Sept. 23, 2024, at the Alberta Court of Justice in Wetaskiwin.
“We are happy to have quickly responded and apprehended these offenders on what began as a fairly minor offence ,” says Cpl. John Learn of the Wetaskiwin RCMP Crime Reduction Unit.” Removing these armed individuals and their weapons from our streets is the type of impact that the Wetaskiwin Crime Reduction strives for.”
Cpl. Troy Savinkoff
Alberta RCMP
