On February 5 2023 at approximately 2 a.m., Elk Valley RCMP members were on patrol when an officer observed a blue Ford Escape with an obscured licence plate driving west on Highway 3 near Sparwood BC. The officer observed the vehicle turn off suddenly onto Highway 43 and then onto Aspen Drive, before pulling into a dead end street on 2nd Avenue. Due to the suspicious behaviour and obscured plate, the officer went roadside with the vehicle. The vehicle was blocked into the cul-de-sac by the officer, so the driver immediately exited the vehicle, but cooperated with police.
“After a second officer arrived, our dispatchers confirmed the vehicle was stolen out of Alberta,” said S/Sgt. S.D.A. (Svend) Nielsen, Detachment Commander, Elk Valley RCMP in a press release. “Both the female driver and male passenger were arrested without incident. Both had outstanding warrants from other jurisdictions. A dog located in the vehicle was safely cared for by the officers during the investigation and later turned back over to the male owner.”
Officers towed the vehicle to the detachment and searched the vehicle in a safer environment. They located what appeared to be a small amount of suspected methamphetamine near the passenger’s door, a small amount of Psilocybin (magic mushrooms), a much larger quantity, over 400 grams of suspected cocaine, in the glove box of the vehicle and a decent amount of cash ($1500) in her possession. There were other items located during the search which indicate the two suspects were also involved in some level of drug trafficking and identity theft/fraudulent activity during their travels, the release said..
“The male was released on documents related to his outstanding warrants as per the wishes of the detachment(s) from which they were from. The female driver was released on an Undertaking with a number of conditions related to the various offences as part of our initial investigation. The names of the two suspects cannot be released as no formal charges have been approved against them by Crown Counsel.
“Elk Valley RCMP are still in the midst of processing the exhibits seized as a result of the initial investigation and will be contacting victim/witnesses in the future as part of the identity fraud investigation when able too. Vehicle stops, like this excellent example completed by your officer(s), sometimes lead to these kinds of investigations, with the drug seizure likely impacting the local and regional area for a short time. Our investigation is ongoing.”