Crime

Update – Amber Alert cancelled – Noah and mother found safe in Calgary

Published

9 months ago

March 16th, 8 AM

Update from EPS:

An off duty Calgary Police Service member spotted Hjalte and Noah while driving. Hjalte was arrested by RCMP in Okotoks and remains in custody. Hjalte is facing a charge of abduction under the Criminal Code, Section 283(1). Noah will be returned to his father.

March 16th, 5:30 AM

The Amber Alert for Noah Ducharme has been cancelled.
Noah and his mother were located in Calgary at approximately 5:30 a.m. Noah is unharmed.

Background

Friday 11:45 PM

The Edmonton Police Service is issuing an Amber Alert for a child who was abducted today (March 15, 2019) at 2:50 p.m. from the Waverley Elementary School in the area of 68 Street and 89 Avenue.

Noah Ducharme, age 8, is 4 feet tall, approximately 70 lbs, with short brown hair, wearing a dark green hoodie, light coloured jeans, and yellow and black Nike prescription glasses.

Noah was abducted by his mother Brianne Hjalte, 31, who is described as 5’7” tall, approximately 180 lbs, with dark shoulder length hair, wearing a dark jacket and dark pants.

Hjalte and Noah left the area on foot heading westbound on 89 Avenue. They are believed to be travelling in a 2008 Silver, Jeep Patriot with Alberta plate Z W K 8 4 4.

It is believed that Noah is in imminent danger. The public is advised to not approach the suspect.

Anyone who sees this vehicle, Hjalte or Noah, is asked to call EPS immediately by calling the complaint line 780-423-4567, or #377 from your mobile phone.

Alberta

Vermilion RCMP Arrest Male for Multiple Counts of Criminal Harassment

Published

5 hours ago

December 9, 2019

Todayville Edmonton

Dec. 9, 2019

Vermilion RCMP Arrest Male for Multiple Counts of Criminal Harassment

Mannville, Alta. – On Dec. 2, 2019 Vermilion RCMP received a complaint about an unknown person making unwanted contact first by phone and then by text messages. On Dec. 3, 2019 another individual reported unwanted contact from a known male and the suspect was identified to police. 5 additional complaints were received by 5 different individuals on Dec. 4 and 5, 2019, all of a similar nature and were linked to the same originating number.

On Dec. 5, 2019 Vermilion RCMP arrested Jim Douglas Wilson, aged 32 of Mannville, Alta. He is is charged with:

Criminal Harassment – 7 counts

Invitation to Sexual Touching – 2 counts

Luring a Child – 2 counts

Breach of Probation – 1 count

Jim Wilson was held to appear before a Justice of the Peace and was remanded into custody to next appear on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019 in Lloydminster Provincial Court.

As the matter is now before the courts, no further information will be released.

Crime

EPS warns public about series of violent incidents around online selling

Published

4 days ago

December 5, 2019

Lloyd Lewis

Police seeing rash of ‘letgo’ robberies

December 5th, 2019

The Edmonton Police Service is alerting citizens to a reported series of violent robberies and carjackings occurring primarily at online buy-and-sell meetups.

Since October 8, police have responded to nine reports of meetups that ended in robberies or carjackings, the majority of which have occurred in the last two weeks. The suspects respond to sellers’ ads on letgo.com and arrange to meet and purchase the items for sale, in some cases threatening the sellers with a firearm or spraying them with pepper spray before robbing them of the electronics or vehicle being offered for sale.

In one instance that occurred on December 3 at approximately 1 p.m., a seller who was trying to sell a vehicle arranged to meet the suspects at his home in the Baturyn neighbourhood. After being given the keys for a test drive, the two male suspects stole the vehicle, dragging the seller for approximately 150 metres. He was uninjured.

In a few cases, the suspects posed as sellers, advertising items for sale on letgo, then robbing potential buyers at the meeting location.

The suspects are described as black males between the ages of 15 and 17, operating in groups of two or more. Investigators believe the crime series is attributable to a group of youths who are known to police. One 17-year-old male, who cannot be named due to his age, was arrested and charged with robbery with a weapon (x5), possess dangerous weapon (x2), and breach of recognizance, and has since been released on bail. A second suspect has been identified, and charges are pending.

“We want to remind citizens to use caution when meeting up with strangers. Arrange to meet in a safe, visible and public location, not at your home or in your vehicle, and bring another person with you,” says Det. Calvin Mah, EPS Northeast Division. “We also recommend that if the person has a profile photo, ask if they are the person depicted in that image, or ask for a photo or description. If the person who shows up at the meeting point does not match the person depicted, leave immediately. Above all, pay attention to your instincts. If something feels off at any point, abandon the sale.”

For more tips to prepare for a safer online buy-and-sell experience, visit the EPS website.

Anyone with information about this crime or the suspects is asked to contact the EPS at 780-423-4567 or #377 from a mobile phone. Anonymous information can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.p3tips.com/250.