Known offender with close to 50 criminal warrants arrested in stolen vehicle

The Edmonton Police Service arrested two individuals in a stolen vehicle, one of whom was a known offender and had close to 50 outstanding criminal warrants.

On Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016, the EPS Targeted Offended Section was conducting surveillance on a known offender and located a parked suspicious vehicle (2016 White Ford Explorer) just before 12:30 a.m., at a residence in the area of 140 Avenue and 62 Street.

The vehicle was observed leaving the residence, and the suspect driving the vehicle was believed to be the known suspect. Northeast Division patrol, Air-1 and Canine Unit worked together to initiate a traffic stop in the area of 127 Street and 167 Avenue, but the suspect vehicle fled from police. Ground units quickly terminated the criminal flight response as Air-1 took the lead and followed the suspect vehicle from the sky.

The vehicle was subsequently abandoned in the area of 66 Street and 158 Avenue after a successful spike belt was deployed close by. Air-1 observed the driver and passenger suspects flee to a near-by strip mall. Ground units contained the area, and two suspects were taken into custody just before 1:30 a.m.

Seized from the vehicle were the following:  

• $2,900 cash of proceeds of crime
• 52g of methamphetamine with a street value estimated at $5,200
• 2.3g of heroin with a street value estimated at $900
• 6.5g of cocaine with a street value estimated at $650
• 35 diazepam pills with a street value of $700
• Ammunition for a 22 caliber firearm
• Bear spray
• Identity documents  

Mohammed Khair Elghadban, 35, had 46 outstanding criminal warrants for his arrest relating to drugs, weapons possession, and money and identity fraud along with recognizance breaches. He was charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking (x5), possess property over $5,000, possess property under $5,000, fraudulent concealment, dangerous driving, fail to stop vehicle-evade officer, possession of prohibited firearm, breach of recognizance (x7).

Kristi Leigh Upright, 24, was charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking (x5), possess property under $5,000, and breach of recognizance (x4).

The investigation continues and additional charges are pending as several personal identification items were also recovered from the stolen vehicle.

Elghadban and Upright are currently remanded and are scheduled to appear in court on Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016.

from Media Releases http://ift.tt/1ND22uQ