RCMP briefs from around the province

Morley

An investigation by the Cochrane RCMP and fire investigator has determined that a fire that destroyed the historical McDougall Church Monday was likely accidental.

The church, was built in 1875, and was completely engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived at the scene Monday morning.

Police say there is no evidence that the fire was deliberate, and the investigation will be concluded.

Lake Louise

RCMP and Parks Canada have recovered the body of a kayaker on the Bow River.

The authorities had received reports on May 22 at 9 p.m., that the kayaker — who was on a solo trip on the river — was overdue. This report matched earlier reports of an abandoned kayak that had been observed on the Bow River near the Taylor Lake area since approximately 7 p.m.

Parks Canada Visitor Safety Specialists completed a search of the river via helicopter, and located what they believed to be a submerged person upstream. After a ground search, Visitor Safety Specialists were able to recover the body of a deceased 25-year-old woman from Clarington Ont., at approximately midnight.

The female’s family has been notified, and her identity will not be released.

Rocky Mountain House

A man and woman were rescued by RCMP after a raft capsized in the North Saskatchewan River on May 21.

The RCMP detachment were conducting pro-active patrols on the river in a police jet boy as part of a joint task force operation, when during this patrol they observed a small inflatable boat with an adult man and woman capsize in a dangerous section of the river.

The man was not wearing a life preserver, while the woman was wearing one that was too large for her body size. Both were struggling in the rapids and their safety was in jeopardy in the fast water and current, with the man struggling to hang on to the woman who was being pulled under due to the weight.

Officers were able to maneuver their boat into position and rescue the pair. Neither received any serious injuries and alcohol was not a factor in the incident.

Picture Butte

Picture Butte responded to a fatal traffic collision Sunday, where a pick up truck travelling southbound on Highway 23 crossed over the centre line and collided with a northbound semi tractor trailer.

The incident occurred on Highway 23, just south of Township Road 104.

The female driver of the southbound pick-up truck was pronounced deceased at the scene. She was the lone occupant of the vehicle, and police will not be releasing the names of the persons involved. Family members have been notified.

The male driver of the tractor trailer did not sustain any injuries.

Red Deer

RCMP have arrested a man in a stolen car with a loaded shotgun.

Police were on patron in downtown Red Deer shortly before 6 a.m. on May 22, when they located a vehicle with a stolen license plate on it — further investigation found that the car was stolen, and driver was in possession of a loaded, sawed-off shotgun and what is believed to have been meth. The man unsuccessfully attempted to flee police before being taken into custody.

Leray Pratt, age 23, faces numerous stolen property and firearms charges.