Red Deer RCMP arrest numerous prolific offenders in targeted hot spots

Red Deer, Alberta – Red Deer RCMP recent arrests include the arrests of numerous prolific offenders identified through Pinpoint, the Red Deer crime reduction strategy; a number of offenders were arrested in stolen vehicles while police were patrolling identified crime hot spots, and several arrests were thanks to the tracking abilities of Red Deer police dogs. More arrests came thanks to tips from the public regarding stolen vehicles and suspicious activity.

December 22 – 20171719974

Shortly before 1:30 am on December 22, RCMP located a stolen truck as it drove in north Red Deer. The truck fled from RCMP into the Pines neighbourhood where officers quickly located it abandoned in a nearby alley. Police Dog Services attended and tracked the suspect to the foyer of an apartment building on Patterson Crescent, where she was taken into custody without incident. The truck had been reported stolen out of Leduc on December 20.

A 29 year old woman faces charge of dangerous operation of motor vehicle, operating a motor vehicle while pursued by police, possession of stolen property and a number of traffic charges. Her name cannot be released at this time as those charges have not yet been sworn before the courts.

December 19 – 20171566703

On December 19, Red Deer RCMP located and arrested the second suspect in a personal robbery that took place the evening of November 18 when a man walking home through downtown Red Deer was assaulted by two men in an attempted robbery. RCMP arrested the first suspect on November 24, and identified the second suspect shortly afterward and issued a warrant for his arrest. RCMP located him at a residence at 10 am on December 19 while on a different call, and took him into custody without incident.

James Mitchell was wanted on 10 outstanding warrants out of Medicine Hat at the time of his arrest. He faces the following charges regarding the Red Deer incident on November 18:

· Criminal Code 344(1)(b) – Attempted rRobbery

· Criminal Code 145(3) – Fail to comply with conditions X 2

Mitchell was remanded to appear in court in Red Deer on December 19 and is scheduled to appear again on January 2 at 9:30 am.

December 16 – 20171696940

Shortly before midnight the night of December 16, RCMP on patrol in an area known for criminal activity located a stolen truck being driven by a female suspect. The truck fled police but RCMP located it nearby immediately thanks to a tip from the public, and arrested the woman without incident.

25 year old Madison Leigh Coutre was wanted on nine outstanding warrants at the time of her arrest for possession of stolen property (X 4), breach of probation (X 3), fail to attend court and fail to attend for fingerprinting. She now faces the following additional charges:

· Criminal Code 355(a) – Possession of stolen property over $5,000

· Criminal Code 145(3) – Fail to comply with conditions

· Criminal Code 733.1(1) – Fail to comply with probation order

Coutre is scheduled to appear in court in Red Deer on January 4 at 9:30 am.

December 16 – 20171693373

Shortly after 8 am on December 16, RCMP were called to a store to arrest a shoplifter who had been detained by store security. The suspect resisted arrest and attempted to assault police; he was subdued and arrested without injury to himself or to the arresting officers. He was found to be wanted on three outstanding warrants out of Edmonton.

37 year old Gary Reginald Mills faces the following charges:

· Criminal Code 270(1)(a) – Assault on police officer X 2

· Criminal Code 129(a) – Resist/ obstruct peace officer

· Criminal Code 430(4) – Mischief under $5,000 X 2

Mills is scheduled to appear in court in Red Deer on January 11 at 9:30 am.

December 15 – 20171691786

Shortly after 9:30 pm on December 15, RCMP responded to a report of a theft of vehicle in progress in Northwood Estates after a man intercepted a suspect in the process of stealing his truck and detained him until police arrived. RCMP immediately responded and took a 37 year old man into custody without incident.

37 year old Jason Romeo Denomme faces the following charges:

· Criminal Code 333.1 – Theft of truck

· Criminal Code 259(4) – Operate motor vehicle while disqualified

· CDSA 4(1) – Possession of Schedule I substance (methamphetamine)

Denomme was remanded to appear in court on December 20; he is scheduled to appear again on January 3 at 9:30 am.

December 14 – 20171682155

Shortly before 12:30 am on December 14, RCMP responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle in the Riverside Industrial area and attended immediately. On arrival they located a parked Dodge truck with no license plate, with a male behind the wheel. The driver rammed the police car and fled at high speeds through the Normandeau and Glendale neighbourhoods before coming to a stop, likely due to an engine malfunction. The driver attempted to flee police on foot and resisted arrest but was taken into custody without injury to himself or to police officers.

29 year old Jesse Joseph Cecka faces the following charges:

· Criminal Code 129(a) – Resist/ obstruct peace officer

· Criminal Code 249(1)(a) – Dangerous operation of motor vehicle

· Criminal Code 249.1(1) – Operate motor vehicle while pursued by police

· Criminal Code 252(1)(b) – Fail to stop at scene

· Criminal Code 355(a) – Possession of stolen property over $5,000

· Criminal Code 145(3) – Fail to comply with conditions

· Criminal Code 430(4) – Mischief under $5,000

Cecka is scheduled to appear in court on January 5 at 9:30 am.

December 14 – 20171682444/ 20171682047

At 4 am on December 14, RCMP on patrol in an area known for criminal activity located a suspicious truck that fled police. RCMP didn’t pursue the truck but other police officers moved to intercept it as it fled and located it abandoned shortly afterward. Police Dog Services attended and tracked both suspects, who were taken into custody without incident. The female driver was arrested for possession of stolen property and the male passenger was arrested for a file earlier the same night where he was seen by police in a stolen vehicle and fled police on foot.

24 year old Derica Patricia Mercer faces the following charges:

· Criminal Code 56.1 – Illegal possession or trafficking in government documents

· Criminal Code 249(1)(a) – Dangerous operation of motor vehicle

· Criminal Code 249.1(1) – Operate motor vehicle while pursued by police

· Criminal Code 355(a) – Possession of stolen property over $5,000

· Criminal Code 355(b) – Possession of stolen property under $5,000 X 2

· TSA 51(a) – Drive without operator’s license

· TSA 52(1)(a) – Drive without registration

· TSA 54(1)(a) – Drive without insurance

Mercer was scheduled to appear in court in Red Deer on December 21 and did not appear; her charges have now gone to warrant status.

The 32 year old male passenger faces a charge of possession of stolen property over $5,000 and a traffic charge. His name cannot be released at this time as those charges have not yet been sworn before the courts.

December 14 – 20171386449

In the early morning of December 14, RCMP located a woman who was wanted on a number of outstanding warrants after she failed to appear in court in Red Deer in November regarding the theft of two purses from two Red Deer fitness facilities in October and her subsequent use of one of the credit cards to purchase almost $1,000 in prepaid Visa cards.

At the time of her arrest on December 14, 27 year old Brittany Danielle Aebly was wanted on outstanding warrants for other files, as well, including possession for the purpose of trafficking (X 2), careless use of a firearm (X 4), possession of a firearm (X 4), possession of a weapon dangerous to the public (X 4), all out of Red Deer, and three warrants out of Grande Prairie for theft (X 2) and possession of counterfeit currency.

She also faces the following charges regarding the purse theft:

· Criminal Code 342(1)(a) – Theft, forgery, misuse of credit card

· Criminal Code 334(b) – Other theft under $5,000 X 3

· Criminal Code 145(2)(a) – Fail to attend court X 2

Aebly is scheduled to appear in court on January 9, 2018 at 9:30 am.

December 11 – 20171671413

At 4 pm on December 11, RCMP received several reports of a suspicious vehicle in the downtown and determined the truck had been reported stolen out of Red Deer earlier the same day. RCMP located the truck and executed a traffic stop after it pulled into a parking lot in West Park. The male driver and female passenger were arrested without incident; the female passenger was later released without charge. In the truck, RCMP located a large collection of tools that had been reported stolen in a commercial break and enter earlier the same day and were estimated to be worth $15,000. Those tools were returned to their owner. Police also seized several sets of vehicle keys that had been reported stolen.

41 year old Aaron James Campbell faces the following charges:

· Criminal Code 355(a) – Possession of stolen property over $5,000 X 3

· Criminal Code 145(3) – Fail to comply with conditions

· TSA 94(2) – Drive while unauthorized

· TSA 54(1)(a) – Drive without insurance

Campbell is scheduled to appear in court in Red Deer on January 10 at 9:30 am.

December 5 – 20171643061

At 1 pm on December 5, RCMP on patrol in an area known for criminal activity located a stolen car being driven by a female suspect. RCMP tracked the vehicle at a distance until it was parked and the driver had exited the car, then arrested her without incident. RCMP seized fentanyl and meth in quantities and packaging that indicated trafficking, and seized smaller amounts of heroin and ecstasy. The car had been reported stolen out of Red Deer on November 3 after it was left running and unlocked.

22 year old Reanne Brodersen faces the following charges:

· Criminal Code 355(a) – Possession of stolen property over $5,000

· Criminal Code 355(b) – Possession of stolen property under $5,000

· CDSA 5(2) – Possession of Schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking X 2 (fentanyl, methamphetamine)

· CDSA 4(1) – Possession of Schedule I substance (heroin)

· CDSA 4(1) – Possession of Schedule III substance (ecstasy)

Brodersen is scheduled to appear in court in Red Deer on January 18, 2018 at 9:30 am.

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Crime

Canada Seizes 4,300 Litres of Chinese Drug Precursors Amid Trump’s Tariff Pressure Over Fentanyl Flows

Published on October 30, 2025

Todayville

Sam Cooper

In what appears to be the second-largest Chinese precursor-chemical seizure in British Columbia in the past decade, Canadian border and police officials announced they intercepted more than 4,300 litres of chemicals used to manufacture fentanyl and other synthetic drugs at a notoriously troubled port in Delta, B.C.

The announcement of a seizure that occurred in May 2025 comes amid President Donald Trump’s continuing pressure on Ottawa to crack down on fentanyl trafficking in the province — which U.S. officials say has become a key production and shipment point for Chinese and Mexican traffickers.

The seizure — announced jointly by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and the RCMP — underscores the scale and persistence of global trafficking networks funnelling illicit materials into Canada’s drug markets.

According to the agencies, border officers examined two marine containers that arrived from China in mid-May, both bound for Calgary, Alberta. Acting on intelligence developed by CBSA’s Pacific Region, officers discovered 3,600 litres of 1,4 Butanediol, a key ingredient for producing GHB, often known as the “date-rape drug”; 500 litres of Propionyl Chloride, a chemical precursor used to synthesize fentanyl; and 200 litres of Gamma Butyrolactone (GBL), another controlled intoxicant.

The chemicals were concealed inside 60 clear jugs and 20 blue drums within the containers. Investigators believe the shipment was intended for use in clandestine drug laboratories. The RCMP confirmed that an investigation into the importation network remains ongoing.

The seizure comes amid growing concern about Canada’s port security, particularly in Metro Vancouver, where experts and local officials say criminal networks are exploiting gaps in federal enforcement.

The Delta seizure follows a series of major CBSA operations targeting precursor chemicals at Pacific ports. In May 2022, CBSA officers in the Metro Vancouver District examined a container from China declared as “toys” and discovered 1,133 kilograms of the fentanyl-precursor chemical Propionyl Chloride, with the potential to produce more than a billion doses of fentanyl.

Public Safety Canada also reported that in the first half of 2021, CBSA seized more than 5,000 kilograms of precursor chemicals, compared with just 512 kilograms in 2020 — reflecting what officials called a “dramatic escalation” in attempts to smuggle fentanyl inputs into the country.

In 2023, the City of Delta released a report highlighting major vulnerabilities at port terminal facilities, warning that there is “literally no downside” for organized criminals to infiltrate port operations. The report noted that British Columbia’s provincial threat assessment rated ports as highly susceptible to corruption and organized-crime infiltration.

At the time, Delta Mayor George Harvie called the lack of a dedicated national port-policing force “a threat to national security.” In comments to the Canadian Press, Harvie said that while Canada’s ports fall under federal jurisdiction, the “total absence of uniformed police at the facilities makes them obvious targets for criminal elements — from Mexican drug cartels to biker gangs.”

“We’re witnessing a relentless flow of illegal drugs, weapons and contraband into Canada through our ports, and that threatens our national security,” Harvie said.

The Port of Vancouver complex, which includes major terminals in Delta, Surrey, and Vancouver, handles roughly three million containers annually, with millions more expected as port expansion plans move forward.

The Delta report reiterated how difficult it has become to police these sprawling operations since the Ports Canada Police were disbanded in 1997. More than a quarter-century later, Harvie said, the consequences of that decision are now “alarmingly clear.”

The CBSA announcement today comes as U.S. President Donald Trump has imposed tariffs on Canadian exports, accusing Ottawa of failing to interdict the flow of fentanyl and precursor chemicals trafficked through British Columbia ports. Washington has repeatedly pressed Canada to strengthen port enforcement and anti-money-laundering controls, citing the West Coast’s role in China- and Mexico-linked trafficking networks.

Simultaneously, in trade negotiations with Beijing, Mr. Trump announced a reduction in tariffs tied to the fentanyl supply chain — raising concern that Washington has eased pressure on China, the primary source of finished fentanyl now responsible for hundreds of thousands of overdose deaths across North America.

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Crime

Suspect caught trying to flee France after $100 million Louvre jewel robbery

Published on October 28, 2025

Todayville

MxM News

French authorities have arrested two men accused of involvement in the recent heist at the Louvre Museum that stunned Paris last week. One of the suspects was caught Saturday night at Charles de Gaulle Airport as he tried to board a flight to Algeria, French outlet Le Parisien reported. Both men, described as being in their 30s and from Seine-Saint-Denis — a crime-ridden suburb north of Paris — were taken into custody on charges of “organized gang robbery” and “conspiracy to commit a crime.” Two other members of the crew remain on the run.

Authorities say the arrests followed a tip that one suspect was attempting to flee the country. Police intercepted him at the airport, while a second man was tracked down hours later in Paris. Investigators have yet to recover any of the stolen Crown Jewels. The four-man gang — clad in yellow vests and motorcycle helmets — used a cherry picker to scale the walls of the Louvre’s Apollo Gallery before smashing glass displays with chainsaws in front of stunned onlookers. The entire operation reportedly took less than four minutes.

The thieves made off with eight pieces from France’s historic Crown Jewels collection, including a sapphire diadem, necklace, and earring linked to 19th-century Queens Marie-Amélie and Hortense. Among the most valuable items taken were Empress Eugénie’s diamond diadem and a massive diamond-and-emerald corsage brooch. One piece — Eugénie’s emerald-set imperial crown with over 1,300 diamonds — was later found outside the museum, damaged but recoverable. The crew abandoned and torched the cherry picker before escaping on scooters.

Forensic teams have since gathered more than 150 DNA, fingerprint, and hair samples from the scene and other sites across Paris. One key piece of evidence — hair found in a motorcycle helmet — is believed to belong to the first thief who entered the museum. Investigators suspect the men were experienced criminals hired to carry out the robbery for a private buyer.

The suspects are being held at Paris police headquarters, where they can be detained for up to 96 hours before charges are formally filed. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez praised police for their swift action, writing on X: “I extend my warmest congratulations to the investigators who have worked tirelessly as I requested and who have always had my full confidence… We keep going!!”

In the wake of the heist, France’s government has ramped up security at major cultural sites. The remaining Crown Jewels have been moved to an ultra-secure vault at the Bank of France. A forthcoming audit by France’s Court of Auditors reportedly found that the Louvre’s video surveillance systems were woefully outdated — with security spending in 2024 lower than two decades earlier.

Paris prosecutors, however, criticized the media for leaking details about the arrests. “This revelation can only hinder the investigative efforts of the 100 or so mobilised investigators… It is too early to provide any specific details,” said prosecutor Laure Beccuau.

“French-crown-jewels” byMichael Reeve licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 DEED.