Swatting incident in Southeast Division

On Thursday, Apr. 24, 2014 just after 11 p.m. the Edmonton Police Service responded to a weapons complaint at a residence in the area of 67 Street and 101A Avenue.

Southeast Division patrol officers, Tactical Section, Canine Unit, Air-one, the Duty Officer and EMS responded to the address and set up a Command Post to safely resolve the situation.

The investigation revealed the residents were victims of a prank known as “swatting.”

Swatting is a false report given to 911 emergency services about a serious incident often involving weapons, and giving the illusion of lives at risk. Often these calls occur within the video gaming sphere and can make it difficult to find out where the call originates from.

“This is a crime of public mischief,” says Insp. Regan James. “These false calls can put a significant strain on emergency services and resources and affect other legitimate calls for service.”

Police continue to investigate.

Anyone with information about this incident or persons responsible is asked to contact the Edmonton Police Service at 780-423-4567 or #377 from a mobile phone. Anonymous information can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at http://ift.tt/1az8Eve.

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Police locate missing 11-year-old girl

The Edmonton Police Service has located the 11-year-old girl who was reported missing earlier today. EPS Downtown Division Patrol officers located the girl after receiving a call from a member of the public who had seen the girl walking in the downtown area. The girl was found unharmed and has been returned to family. No other information is available at this time.



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EPS Hate Crime Detail investigating swastika incident

The Edmonton Police Service Hate Crime Detail is investigating an incident involving a burning swastika that occurred in the early-morning hours Monday in southwest Edmonton.

Southwest Division patrol members responded to an area just south of the Anthony Henday on a hillside by the Rabbit Hill Road intersection, after receiving a call from the Edmonton Fire Rescue just after midnight, April 21, 2014.



Upon arrival, patrol members found a large swastika, approximately 10 feet wide by 10 feet tall, that was attached to a 15-foot high wooden post. Firefighters had already successfully extinguished the burning sign, prior to the arrival of EPS members.



The EPS Hate Crime Detail has since taken over the investigation.



Anyone who has information about this incident 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 http://ift.tt/1az8Eve.

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NET hosts Hard Talk Panel on Rape Culture

April 7 through 11 marks the 2014 Sexual Exploitation Week of Awareness in Edmonton. This year’s theme is Taking Action #YEGsecret Exposed!. As part of the event, Downtown Police Division’s Neighbourhood Empowerment Team (NET) is hosting a Hard Talk Panel on Rape Culture.

"NET is in the business of inviting folks to think about crime and safety from a community perspective," says Alec Stratford, NET social worker. "Tonight's event does just that; it asks all of us to reflect on sexual violence and exploitation from a broader perspective."

The panel brings together experts from the Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton, the University of Alberta, Edmonton Multicultural Health Brokers, Edmonton Police Service and a local media outlet. Panel discussion will focus on how community can take action against sexual exploitation and the process by which rape culture is excused, normalized, and even encouraged by pervasive attitudes, norms, practices and media.

"Sexual Assault has an extremely negative effect on the community of Edmonton as a whole," says Staff Sergeant Shawna Grimes from Edmonton Police Service’s Sexual Assault Section. "It takes the involvement of the community to bring about better awareness and education around this violent crime."

The sold out event, being held at the Santa Maria Goretti Community Centre (11050-90 Street) between 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. this evening, will be webcast at www.dlsfilm.com.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Lisa Kaye-Stanisky, Communications Advisor

Corporate Communications Branch

Edmonton Police Service

Office: 780-391-6153

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Rush-hour commuters being re-routed near Manning Drive and 167 Avenue, following serious collision

Rush hour commuters are being encouraged to avoid the area near 167 Avenue and Manning Drive in northeast Edmonton this evening, following a serious collision at approximately 4 p.m. today, Tuesday, April 8, 2014. Although the investigation is preliminary at this time, it was reported to police that a charter bus struck a Volkswagen Beetle from behind at the intersection of Manning Drive and 167 Avenue, while the vehicle was waiting at a stop light.



A seven-year-old female passenger was treated by paramedics on scene and rushed to hospital with critical injuries.



Police have now closed northbound and southbound traffic on Manning Drive. Motorists travelling northbound on Manning Drive are being re-routed at 153 Avenue. Motorists travelling southbound are being re-routed onto 167 Avenue.



The detours will remain in effect until further notice to allow police to complete their investigation.



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Police release surveillance photos in an effort to locate suspects responsible for vicious assault on March 22

The Edmonton Police Service is appealing to the public to assist in the identification of two males captured on surveillance video from a nearby gas station, who are persons of interest in the ongoing investigation into the vicious assault of a 41-year-old man back on March 22, 2014.

Investigators have been examining surveillance video (see photos below) from businesses nearby where the random assault occurred, around 104 and 105 Street at 51 Avenue, at approximately 1:15 a.m. on that Saturday morning.



The complainant, who is alleged to have been randomly assaulted in a parking lot outside of a medical centre, regained consciousness late last week in hospital, where he remains, after suffering serious brain injuries.



Investigators are encouraging anyone that is able to identify the two males in the surveillance video image to contact the Edmonton Police Service at 780-423-4567 or #377 from a mobile phone. Anonymous information can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at http://ift.tt/1az8Eve.

Background:

It was reported that the 41-year-old male victim was waiting outside of the medical centre for a friend, when he was approached by several males and randomly beaten. The victim sustained multiple head injuries, and was rushed to hospital by EMS paramedics, where he remains unconscious and in a medically induced coma.



Investigators continue to examine video surveillance in the area, which shows five intoxicated male suspects walking westbound along 51 Avenue by a nightclub near 103 Street. Three of the male suspects left the group and then travelled south and into the parking lot where the alleged aggravated assault occurred.



Police believe the suspects may have also attended a nearby fast food restaurant near 51Avenue and 104 Street at around 1 a.m., prior to the assault.

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Missing male found safe

The Edmonton Police Service has located the missing 50-year-old male who was missing since Saturday, Apr. 5, 2014.

The man was found safe and unharmed today, Monday, April 07, 2014.

Thank you for your concern and assistance.

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