“Faith in humanity restored”

The Edmonton Police Service is shining light on a Good Samaritan in northeast Edmonton.

On Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016 around 1 p.m., two constables were driving in the area of 50 Street and 124 Avenue when they were waved down by a man. The man is known as a friendly person, who always says, “Hello” to police and is homeless.

The man said he was waiting for police to drive by so he could turn in a leather wallet he had found only 30 minutes earlier in an alley. The wallet contained cash, a debit card, a credit card, personal documents and prescription medication.

Identification in the wallet indicated that it belonged to a 96-year-old man.

Police contacted the senior citizen to hand deliver his missing wallet.

The 96-year-old man and his son were so relieved and grateful that his wallet was recovered.

After realizing all of his cash and cards were untouched, the senior told Northeast Division Const. Mark Rosenow, “My faith in humanity has been restored.”

The senior took the cash from his wallet and asked the officers to give it back to the homeless man as a gesture of thanks.

“The homeless man is very police friendly and his actions demonstrate his true character,” says Const. Rosenow.  

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Northeast residence search warrant yields firearms

The Edmonton Police Service conducted a search warrant on a residence yesterday that resulted in the seizure of firearms.

On Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016 the Northeast Division Beats Team, Tactical Unit and the Edmonton Drug and Gang Enforcement Unit (EDGE) conducted a search warrant around 5:30 p.m. in the area of 149 Avenue and 76 Street.

Police seized a loaded 9mm Glock, two SKS rifles, and a .22 calibre rifle. A magazine, ammunition, 6.8g of psilocybin mushrooms with a street value of $70 and drug paraphernalia were also seized.

Andras Kantona, 41, was charged with possession of firearm knowing possession is unauthorized (x4), careless use of a firearm, unauthorized possession of prohibited device or ammunition, possession knowing serial number is altered, defaced or removed and possession of a controlled substance.  

Police continue to investigate.

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Police lay charges in fatal collision at 97 Street and 160 Avenue

The Edmonton Police Service has charged a man in relation to a fatal collision earlier this week.

Eric Lestar, 20, is charged with impaired driving causing death, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death and refusal to comply with a blood demand.

This is Edmonton’s 23^rd traffic fatality of 2016.

Background

At approximately 4:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 24, 2016, police responded to the area of 97 Street and 160 Avenue regarding a collision. It was reported that a blue Nissan Xterra was travelling northbound on 97 Street when it was allegedly struck from behind by a white Infiniti G37. As a result of the impact, the Nissan caught fire and both vehicles veered into a ditch on the east side of the intersection.

Eric Lestar, the alleged operator of the Infiniti, was treated and transported to hospital by EMS with non-life-threatening injuries. The operator of the Nissan, a middle-aged female, was pronounced deceased on scene.

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Curb the Danger™ celebrates 10 years of success

The Edmonton Police Service (EPS) Curb the Danger™ (CTD) program is being celebrated for 10 successful years of intercepting and removing impaired drivers from Edmonton streets.

Today, at City Hall, Councillor Bev Esslinger will proclaim Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016 “Curb the Danger™ Day” in Edmonton, acknowledging the 10 year milestone along with members of the EPS, Office of Traffic Safety and various program partners. 

Public and media are invited to attend:
Curb the Danger™10^th Anniversary
Thursday, October 27, 2016
1:30 p.m. at the City Hall Room, City Hall
Speaker: Deputy Chief Tony Harder

CTD is a police-community collaboration to ‘curb’ impaired driving in Edmonton. The program aims to increase community participation in the detection of impaired drivers by encouraging citizens to call 911 if they suspect a driver is impaired.

 The award winning* program was launched by EPS in October 2006. Based on police data and survey results, the police-community collaboration has had an effective impact on impaired driving. The program is a significant source of arrests, accounting for about 40 per cent of all impaired driving charges by EPS.   

 “Traffic safety affects just about everyone, so we look to our partnership with the community to help keep our streets as safe as possible,” says CTD program coordinator, Barney Stevens. “Since 2006, we have received over 88,000 CTD calls, resulting in almost 8,000 impaired driving arrests and more than 2,700 roadside suspensions. The continued vigilance of Edmontonians has been remarkable.”

 Those who have the propensity to drink and drive should know that in addition to EPS, the citizens of Edmonton are constantly on the lookout for impaired drivers.

If you suspect a driver is impaired:

• Call 911 if it is safe to do so.
• Report the location, vehicle description, and license plate number.
• If possible, keep the vehicle in sight but do not attempt to chase the vehicle, or break the law to do so.
• If the vehicle cannot be intercepted, a letter is sent to the registered owner.

 CTD statistics from program inception in 2006 to September 26, 2016:

CTD Summary Stats: Since Inception
Measure	# of CTD Calls	% of Total CTD Calls
Curb the Danger calls	88,376	100.0%
EPS intercepts	28,674	32.4%
Impaired arrests	7,894	8.9%
Roadside suspensions	2,732	3.1%
Follow-up letters sent to vehicle’s registered owner.	11,020	12.5%

 It is important to note: The distracted driving legislation in Alberta provides an exemption to allow the use of a hand held cellular device to report an emergency, which includes the report of a possible impaired driver to 911.

 *CTD was a semi-finalist winner of the Webber Seavey International Association of Chiefs of Police Award in 2008.

 

For information about the program, visit: Curb the Danger.

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Charges laid in homicide near Fox Drive

Edmonton Police Homicide detectives have charged a man in relation to the weekend homicide near Fox Drive.

Connor James Miller, 21, has been charged with second degree murder, possession of a weapon dangerous purpose, assault peace officer and resist arrest.

Police believe an altercation took place between the accused and the deceased, who knew each other.

Background

On Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016 police were dispatched to a trouble not known around 8:30 p.m. at the Alfred H. Savage Centre near Fox Drive. Upon arrival, police found a deceased male.

The Edmonton Medical Examiner conducted an autopsy on 19-year-old Christopher Fawcett and confirmed the cause of death was a result of stab wounds.

A 21-year-old male suspect was taken into custody shortly thereafter and was considered a person of interest.

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Man charged for threatening social media post against MacEwan University

The Edmonton Police Service has charged a man in relation to an online threat made against MacEwan University yesterday.

On Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016 at approximately 3:30 a.m., the EPS received a report of a threat posted on a social media platform against the post-secondary institution. Downtown and West Division officers attended MacEwan University campuses in response to the threat.

The investigation led officers to a residence in Sherwood Park where a male was taken into custody without incident at approximately 11:30 a.m.

The Edmonton Police Service has charged John Derek Quest, 19, with one count of uttering threats.

Anyone with information about this crime 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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Edmonton Police lay first manslaughter charge

The Edmonton Police Service has laid its first manslaughter charge in relation to a man’s death caused by a fentanyl overdose.

On Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2016, around 1:30 p.m., police were called to a residence in southeast Edmonton in the area of 33 Street and 18 Avenue after it was reported that a body was found in the hallway. 

Autopsy and toxicology results concluded that Szymon Kalich, 33, died from a fentanyl overdose.

Homicide detectives concluded an extensive investigation and charged Jordan Yarmey, 25, with manslaughter in relation to Kalich’s death on Monday, Oct. 24, 2016.

Yarmey’s court date is Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016.  

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