Redwater RCMP kept busy in March

The Redwater Detachment received 172 calls for service over the month of March. These calls consisted of 3 assaults, 3 Break and Enters, 2 Frauds, 5 Mischiefs, 7 Thefts, 4 Theft of Motor Vehicles, and 18 motor vehicle collisions.

The Redwater Detachment would like to welcome Cst. Zach Johnson to the detachment. Cst. Johnson was posted to the Redwater detachment at the beginning of the month from RCMP Depot. Cst. Johnson was born and raised in Ontario. Cst.

Johnson loves playing sports (volleyball, baseball, soccer) and is known to be a bit of a gamer. Cst. Johnson is looking to get into coaching community teams after settling in the area. If you see Cst. Johnson out and about make sure to give him a big Redwater and area welcome.

The Redwater Traffic Unit would like to remind all drivers that the traffic initiative for the month of April is Speeding and Aggressive Driving. As the weather warms up and driving condition improve drivers are reminded to take their time and drive in a safe and courteous manner to ensure everyone’s safety.

The month of March was a busy month for the Redwater RCMP detachment and we met up with a lot of criminals that had some issues navigating in the cold and snowy conditions. On March 4, 2022 just after 7:00 a.m. members were dispatched to a 911 call of two suspicious males in a red Honda CRV trespassing on a rural property near Township Road 581 and Highway 28. When the two males noticed the home owner they attempted to reverse out of the driveway, but became stuck in the snow. The two males advised the home owner that they were lost and looking for directions to Bon Accord. Eventually the vehicle was freed from the snow and headed down the driveway to continue their quest to Bon Accord when they became stuck again in the snow at the end of the driveway. Members from the Redwater Detachment, supported by Redwater Traffic Unit members attended to find the two lost souls attempting to dig their vehicle out of the snow and a passing motorist had just stopped to pull them out. Members obtained the names of the two stranded motorists and determined that the first male was bound by conditions of a release order to abstain from possessing weapons and was currently a suspended driver. The second male was found to be bound by numerous orders preventing him from being in the possession of firearms and was also prohibited from driving. Members then noted that the driving column of the vehicle had also been damaged. As the investigation proceeded 3 rifles, one of which was loaded, and a significant amount of ammunition was located in the CRV. Now the two males

faced a bit of a conundrum as neither of them could drive or possess firearms or ammunition, and they were in what appeared to be a stolen vehicle. As members continued to investigate a wildlife certificate and an Amazon package in the names of a husband and wife couple from the Smoky Lake area. Members were able to speak with the husband and wife and confirmed that the items were last at a rural property in the Smoky Lake area and must have been stolen. As the member spoke to the husband and wife it was also determined that the 3 rifles located in the vehicle were also their property and had been stolen along with additional items such as instruments, a bale hydrometer, and power tools. As if to put the cherry on top, members were able to get in contact with the owner of the Honda CRV that brought the males out on their ill-fated trip who confirmed that their vehicle was stolen a few days prior in Edmonton.

As a result of their activities Aaron Wesley Patenaude, 33, and Jason Tyler Blyan, 34, both of Edmonton are jointly charged with:

• 2 counts of Possession of Property Obtained by Crime.
• 3 counts of Possessing Firearms in a Vehicle.
• 3 counts of Possessing Stolen Firearms.
• 3 counts of Unsafe Storage of Firearms.
• Transporting Alcohol in a Vehicle within reach of Occupants.

Aaron Wesley Patenaude is further solely charged with:

• 5 counts of Failing to Comply with his Release Order.
• 3 counts of Possessing a Prohibited Weapon.
• 3 counts of Possessing a Firearm without a licence.
• Drive Unauthorized
• Drive Uninsured Vehicle on Highway.

Jason Tyler Blyan is further solely charged with:

• 9 counts of possessing a firearm, ammunition while prohibited.

Both accused were held for a Judicial Interim Release hearing where both were remanded in custody and next appear in Fort Saskatchewan Provincial Court on April 7, 2022.