Two held after ‘chop shop’ raid yields drugs, stolen bikes

RCMP investigators turned up a half-dozen stolen dirt bikes, a trailer and a quantity of drugs after raiding an alleged “chop shop” in a rural area west of Edmonton earlier this month.

Police carried out a search warrant on the property in rural Parkland County on Aug. 24. A news release Thursday said they uncovered materials for painting the stolen vehicles and altering vehicle identification numbers ( VINs).

RCMP located six stolen dirt bikes that had been painted and given fake VINs, as well as a stolen flat deck trailer.

They also turned up 224 grams of methamphetamine, printers, paper, stamps and “other paraphernalia associated to vehicle ‘chop shops,’” the release stated.

A man and woman at the property during the search warrant were arrested without incident.

Dean Brendel, 28, from Fallis, Alta., was charged with seven counts of possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, seven counts of tampering with a VIN, five counts of fraudulent concealment, possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking and two counts of failing to comply with condition of undertaking or recognizance.

Hope Nixon, 23, was charged with seven counts possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, seven counts of tampering with a VIN, five counts of fraudulent concealment and possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking.

Brendel was remanded and is scheduled to appear in Stony Plain provincial court Aug. 29. Nixon was released on a recognizance and is to appear in court the same day.

Officers from the Stony Plain/ Spruce Grove drug section, Evansburg RCMP and the K Division auto theft section were involved in the investigation.