March busy for Picture Butte RCMP

Picture Butte RCMP and Lethbridge police recovered a trailer that had been stolen from Fort Macleod on March 3. The trailer was full of tools that had been stolen from Fort Macleod and the Grassy Lake area. The estimated value of the recovered property is more than $50,000. RCMP were able to return the property to its rightful owners, and charges are pending against local individuals.

On March 13, Picture Butte RCMP received a complaint that a window of a vehicle in Nobleford had been broken and fishing gear stolen. RCMP gathered information to help Lethbridge police obtain a search warrant for a Lethbridge residence, where numerous stolen items were found, including government documents and the fishing gear reported stolen a few days earlier. Lethbridge police are expected to lay charges against occupants of the residence.

On March 27, Picture Butte RCMP and Lethbridge ALERT raided a motel room in Picture Butte where they seized 72 fentanyl pills worth about $2,500 on the street. Michael Davies of Lethbridge has been charged with drug possession for the purpose of trafficking and three counts of breach of recognizance. Davies, 33, has been remanded into custody and is scheduled for a bail hearing today in Lethbridge.

In addition to these three investigations, Picture Butte RCMP also continued to gather evidence into property recovered during two search warrants which were previously reported on March 15. As a result, RCMP have disrupted the illegal distribution of stolen fuel and laid an additional charge against 27-year-old Devon Vanderlinden for possession of property obtained by crime. His next scheduled court appearance is April 26 in Lethbridge.