Pair arrested in Calgary in connection with alleged western Canadian online dating frauds

Two men are facing numerous charges in connection with an online dating scam that allegedly saw multiple male complainants across Western Canada defrauded of tens-of-thousands of dollars from their bank accounts.

In a joint operation, Edmonton Police Service Cyber Crimes Investigative Detail and Technological Crimes Unit and members of the Calgary police, arrested two men Thursday, Feb. 18, 2016, at two separate of southwest Calgary residences.

It is alleged that Mourad Aytour, 42, and Saed Teeti, 36, (see photos below) targeted multiple male complainants on dating sites frequented by older gay males. They would then establish relationships with these men, before observing pin codes they used and stealing debit and credit cards from the complainants. In one instance, it is alleged that an elderly complainant was drugged using GHB.

Working together, the two accused are alleged to have stolen more than $80,000 from the bank accounts of eight Alberta male complainants – four in Edmonton and four in Calgary - beginning in 2015.

Aytour and Teeti are currently charged with eight counts each of fraud and theft, and numerous additional charges are pending.

Investigators also believe there may be other victims who have yet to come forward to police across Alberta and throughout the Greater Vancouver area.

Investigators are encouraging any other Edmonton and area residents that may have come into contact with Aytour and/or Teeti, to contact the Edmonton Police Service 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.

Anyone who may have come into contact with the two accused who reside in and around the Calgary area should contact the Calgary Police Service at 403-266-1234. Anonymous information can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at http://ift.tt/1az8Eve.
 
Anyone who may have come into contact with the two accused who reside in and around the Greater Vancouver area should contact the Vancouver Police Department at 604-717-3321. Anonymous information can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at http://ift.tt/1az8Eve.

The EPS Cyber Crimes Unit focuses on criminal activities in cyberspace that are often complex and international in scope, where the evidence is transient and spread across multiple jurisdictions.

In order to address these challenges, the EPS Cyber Crimes Unit requires multi-jurisdictional cooperation and engagement with the public, while integrating new technical tools with traditional policing measures.

Mourad Aytour, 42	Saed Teeti, 36

Note: Calgary media should contact 403-428-7979 for additional information.
Note: Vancouver media should contact 604-717-2680 for additional information.

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Police seek public’s assistance in identifying woman who attempted to assist homicide victim near new arena

Autopsy results have confirmed that a 41-year-old city man died of a gun-shot wound inflicted early Sunday morning near the construction site of the new downtown arena.

The Medical Examiner conducted an autopsy Monday, which confirmed that Darren Douglas Sinner, 41, of Edmonton, died from a gun-shot wound with the manner of death being homicide.

Police believe the incident may have stemmed from a brief verbal exchange between Sinner and the suspect(s).

Investigators are trying to identify a female who assisted Baccarat Casino Security personnel in administering first aid to Sinner. It’s believed this individual may have information that could assist homicide detectives with their investigation.

Police encourage anyone who may have heard or seen anything in the area of 104 Avenue and 101 Street at around 12:30 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 21, 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.

Background:
Downtown Division patrol members responded to a 911 call for assistance at approximately 12:30 a.m. today, Sunday, Feb. 21, 2016, near 101 Street and 104 Avenue. It was reported to police that a male in his 40’s was rushed to hospital by paramedics, following an altercation with a group of people.

The complainant has since died in hospital. Police are attempting to identify the individuals who may have provided aid to the complainant.

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Police investigating suspicious death in southwest Edmonton

The Edmonton Police Service is investigating a suspicious death that occurred early Sunday morning at a residence in southwest Edmonton.

Southwest Division patrol members responded to a weapons complaint call at approximately 4:55 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 21, 2016, near Chappelle Drive and Claxton. A male was taken to hospital with gun-shot wounds, where he succumbed to his injuries.

An autopsy has been scheduled for Tuesday morning (Feb. 23, 2016). 

Police encourage anyone with information about this incident 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.

from Media Releases http://ift.tt/1PSE5nT

Police investigating suspicious death near new arena

The Edmonton Police Service is investigating a suspicious death that occurred early Sunday morning in the city’s downtown area.

Downtown Division patrol members responded to a 911 call for assistance at approximately 12:35 a.m. today, Sunday, Feb. 21, 2016. It was reported to police that a male in his 40’s was rushed to hospital by paramedics, following an altercation with another individual(s).

The complainant has since died in hospital.

An autopsy has yet to be scheduled, and no further details will be released until next of kin have been notified.

Police encourage anyone with information about this incident 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.

from Media Releases http://ift.tt/217hcWp

Police release composite sketch of suspect in alleged sexual assault

The Edmonton Police Service is releasing a composite sketch of a suspect connected to an alleged sexual assault.

On Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016, it was reported that two individuals met on a social media website and made arrangements to meet at a hotel on Gateway Boulevard. The male and female met in a hotel room between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m., where the male allegedly robbed and sexually assaulted the female.

The suspect has been described to police as a mixed-race male between the ages of 32 to 35-years-old with grey-green eyes, approximately 5’9” to 5’10” tall with a large build. He has facial hair, and a neck tattoo (possibly a sports logo). The suspect was wearing black clothing, a black hat and white shoes with lime green trim.

 

Anyone who has information 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.

from Media Releases http://ift.tt/241t6QF

High school students learn about the dangers of fentanyl

EPS School Resource Officers are making presentations to Edmonton high school students about the dangers of fentanyl in hopes of preventing future overdoses and deaths.

 

“We really need to get the message out about fentanyl to high school students because the 17-to-25-year-olds are some of the hardest hit,” said Constable Cherie Jerebic, School Resource Officer (SRO).  “We know the message will not stop there, these students will continue the conversation at home with their friends, parents and family.”

 

Constable Jerebic, the Austin O’Brian High School SRO, begins the first of the presentations to approximately 870 students at her school on Feb. 11, 2016.  Over the next few months, SROs will deliver the presentation to approximately 29,000 students at 21 Edmonton high schools.

 

Post 2010, as more and more people were becoming addicted to illegally-obtained oxycodone, provincial governments began to tighten control over the drug making it harder to get on the street.  Predictably, criminals found a market.  Fentanyl is now as easy to purchase on the street as marijuana. This synthetic opiate is usually sold in pill form, but has recently been detected in other street drugs.  Like many street drugs, illegal fentanyl is being manufactured in home labs where quality control is nonexistent.

 

Fentanyl is an opioid narcotic 100 times more toxic than morphine; a dose the size of two grains of salt can be lethal.  What makes this killer particularly sinister is that drug dealers may, or may not, tell the buyer there is fentanyl in the product.  Many youth take fentanyl unknowingly, and many pay the ultimate price.    

 

According to Alberta Health Services, fentanyl killed 272 people in 2015.  The number of deaths from the drug has more than tripled since 2014, while in 2012 it was linked directly to only six deaths.

 

Fentanyl overdose may be the single largest public health threat in Alberta.  Fentanyl is highly addictive and overdose occurs both with first-time users and long-term addicts; however, this outcome is preventable.

 

Constable Jerebic adds “Little green apples, fenties, greenies, eighties, shady eighties, and fake oxy are all candy-coated street names for a killer drug that is readily available to our youth.  EPS wants to make every effort to provide accurate information to youth about the risks of fentanyl, so they can make good decisions when knowingly or unknowingly encountering this very dangerous drug.” 

 

For more information on fentanyl, including prevention resources, please visit www.drugsfool.ca.

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Multiple transit shelters damaged during mischief spree in south Edmonton

The Edmonton Police Service is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the perpetrator(s) responsible for damaging 14 ETS transit shelters in southwest Edmonton last Saturday.

Sometime during the early morning hours on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016, 14 transit shelters were damaged with at least one pane of glass broken on each.

The perpetrator(s) damaged shelters along 109 Street, between 72 Avenue and Whyte Avenue, before targeting additional shelters on Whyte Avenue between 109 and 83 streets.  Transit shelters were also damaged south and north of Whyte Avenue on 83 Street and along Connors Road.

Damage to the transit shelters is estimated at more than $6,000.

Police encourage anyone with information regarding this expensive act of mischief 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.

 

 

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