RCMP lay charges in Strathmore dog-dragging incident

Charges have officially been laid against a woman and man following an incident where a dog had to be put down on July 2 after it was dragged behind a car.

Melinda Harris, age 40, of Calgary and True Underwood, age 20, have both been charged with one count of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal contrary to Section 445.1 of the Criminal Code.

Harris will appear in Strathmore provincial court on Aug. 15, while Underwood’s whereabouts are unknown and a warrant has been issued for his arrest.

Athabasca

Athabasca Mounties helped find a woman who was being followed by two curious black bears while on a wilderness hike in the early morning.

The incident occurred in the early morning of Aug. 1, when the RCMP received a complaint from a resident that her elderly sister had left for a hike and had not returned when expected.

There was poor reception when she attempted to call her sister, but she could hear that her sister was on the trails and being followed by two black bears. A second phone call came through, but only muffled noises were heard.

RCMP used ATVs to patrol the Muskeg Creek Park area, which includes 20 kilometres of wilderness trails, and were able to locate the 70-year-old woman on a back trail, exhausted but unharmed. She was given a ride back to her residence.

RCMP say the bears seemed to be following the woman out of curiosity, and did not show any signs of aggression. But they also are reminding trail users to be “bear-aware” and take proper safety measures while in the back-country where bears aware. For more information visit www.bearsmart.alberta.ca or contact your local Fish and Wildlife Division or RCMP detachment.

Gleichen

One woman is dead following a two-vehicle collision near Gleichen on Friday.

RCMP were called around 7:30 p.m. when a west bound SUV on Highway 1 collided with a north bound truck at the intersection of Highway 842. The 59-year-old female driver of the SUV from Calgary succumbed to her injuries at the scene, while the 40year-old male driver of the truck from Coaldale suffered minor injuries.

Cochrane

One man is dead after falling into Elbow Falls near Bragg Creek.

The incident occurred on Friday, with Cochrane RCMP responding to a call at 8:20 p.m., with witnesses on scene reporting to police that the 33-year-old man was taking photographs when he fell in the water.

Dangerous water conditions the made attempts to recover the body difficult, but the body has been recovered.

Police are also reminding the public to be mindful of barriers put in place for their safety.

High Prairie

Two teenagers are dead after the vehicle they were in went down a bank, into water near High Prairie

The incident occurred early Saturday morning, on RR 272, approximately five kilometres south of High Prairie.

There were three passengers in the vehicle, with an 18 and 17-year-old passing away at the scene, and a 16-year-old surviving with minor injuries.

Spirit River

Search and rescue teams were scouring the Spirit River after a swimmer went missing on Thursday of last week.

RCMP were dispatched around 8:35 p.m. to the Smokey River, roughly 10 kilometres downstream from the Watino Bridge after a 15-year-old man was with a group swimming and became caught in the undercurrent and was pulled below the water surface.

Witnesses told emergency responders that the man came back up and drifted down river due to the current, went under the water again, and was not seen again.

Members from Spirit River, McLennan, Peace River and Grande Prairie responded, with Search and Rescue from Peace River and Eaglesham Fire also responded joining in the search.

Rocky Mountain House

A 36-year-old woman from Ponoka led RCMP on a chase Thursday morning near Caroline, Alta.

Rocky Mountain House RCMP responded to a complaint of a Ford F350 on fire, with the truck being determined to be recently stolen from Swift Current. The driver had fled into a nearby wooded area, and police used the K9 unit to locate her in the dark.

The woman now faces charges of two counts of possessing property obtained by crime over $5,000, resisting a peace officer, and two counts of failing to comply with an undertaking.