“BE A TEXTBOOK DRIVER”

As thousands of students return to school this morning across the city, the Edmonton Police Service is reminding motorists to dust off their driving skills with the intention of keeping both pedestrians and drivers safe throughout the coming school year.

“There may be the tendency for some drivers to relax their driving and observation skills over the summer holidays,” said. Kerry Bates, EPS Traffic Safety Coordinator.

“So we want to remind everyone to slow down and respect the rules of the road while driving, especially near school zones. We’ve seen collisions between vehicles and pedestrians in school zones in the past, so it’s important we’re all switched on and mindful of our speed and driving habits near schools.

In 2016-17, EPS officers investigated three near-tragic collisions in or near school zones:

Feb. 23, 2016 – An eight-year-old boy sustained serious, non-life-threatening injuries, after being struck by a vehicle in a school zone near Delton Elementary School.

June 15, 2016 – An 11-year-old girl sustained life-threatening injuries, after being struck by a garage truck while riding her bicycle near Velma Baker Elementary School.

Oct 25, 2016 – A 16-year-old girl sustained serious, non-life-threatening injuries, after being struck by a vehicle while jaywalking near Archbishop Oscar Romero School.

“Safety isn’t about placing blame on one another – it’s about looking out for one another,” said Sgt. Bates.

“Let’s all do our best to be conscientious drivers and pedestrians with the goal of keeping our children safe throughout the coming school year.”

The City of Edmonton’s Office of Traffic Safety (photo radar vehicles) issued more than 50,300 school zone speeding infraction tickets in 2016-17, while EPS issued more than 3,300 school zone violation tickets (hand held radar gun) last year (Sept. 1^st to June 30^th).

Over the last three years, the Office of Traffic Safety has issued more than 156,000 tickets to drivers speeding through school zones, and EPS officers have issued more than 15,600 school zone speeding offence tickets over the same time period, while focusing their efforts near schools where drivers were ignoring the 30 km/h school zone speed limit.

“The safety of all students is always our first priority,” said Joan Carr, Superintendent of Edmonton Catholic Schools. 

“The 30 km/h school zone expansion to elementary and junior high schools further ensures the safety of students arriving and leaving elementary and junior highs each day,” Carr added.

The Edmonton Police Service also re-launched its “Be a textbook driver” public awareness campaign this week, in conjunction with the first day of school. The public awareness campaign includes a television commercial, transit and road-side signs in high traffic areas around the city, reminding motorists to slow down and be mindful of the 30 km/h speed limit in school zones located on the perimeters around schools across Edmonton.

from Media Releases http://ift.tt/2xLMFBt

Homicide detectives investigating death of a female

Edmonton Police Homicide detectives are investigating the death of a woman after she was found deceased in a residence.

Northeast Division patrol officers responded to a “check on welfare” call on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017 at a residence in the area of 144 Avenue and 88 A Street. Upon arrival, a woman was found deceased inside a suite where she does not reside.

 

An autopsy took place yesterday, Friday, Sept. 1, 2017.

 

The Edmonton Medical Examiner determined that Valerie Maurice, 29, from Montreal, died as a result of strangulation. The manner of death is homicide.

Every file is evaluated on a case by case basis. The EPS has decided to release the name of the deceased as it serves an investigative purpose.

This is Edmonton’s 34^th homicide in 2017.

 

Anyone with 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.

from Media Releases http://ift.tt/2wtmEbG

Autopsy results from weekend death

The Edmonton Police Service continues to investigate the death of a man who was found slumped over in a taxi Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017.

The Edmonton Medical Examiner conducted an autopsy on a Shardi Abdi Hassan, 23. The cause of death was determined to be gunshot wounds and the manner of death is a homicide.

 

Detectives continue to investigate the 33^rd homicide of Edmonton in 2017.

Every file is evaluated on a case by case basis. The EPS has decided to release the name of the deceased as it serves an investigative purpose.

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.

 

Background

 

Northwest Division patrol officers responded to 142 Street and Yellowhead Trail on Saturday, Aug. 2017 just before 5 a.m., where they found a male victim slumped over in the front seat of a taxi.

 

Officers immediately started CPR but the man was pronounced deceased at the scene by EMS.

from Media Releases http://ift.tt/2gptt8y

Homicide detectives lay charges in arson

Edmonton Police Service Homicide detectives have charged a man and a woman in connection with an arson that claimed the life of a 5-month-old baby.

Information was obtained that the house fire was started when outdoor patio furniture was purposely set on fire near the front door on the porch at the residence (1040 Armitage Cr SW) on Aug. 22, 2017.  Along with evidence from arson investigators, detectives were then able to arrest the accuseds in the early evening of Friday, Aug. 25, 2017.

 

Homicide detectives arrested Bronson Woycenko, 19, and Jessica Tammerand, 18, without incident.

 

Woycenko is charged with 2^nd degree murder, arson:disregard for human life, mischief under $5,000(x2).

 

Tammerand is charged with arson:disregard for human life, mischief under $5,000 (x2).

 

Detectives continue to investigate.

from Media Releases http://ift.tt/2xCL0x7

Homicide detectives investigating suspicious death in Northwest Division

Homicide detectives are investigating the death of a man after a report of a shooting just before 5 a.m. today (Aug. 26, 2017).

Northwest Division patrol officers responded to 142 Street and Yellowhead Trail where they found a male victim slumped over in the front seat of a taxi. The officers immediately begun CPR but the man was pronounced deceased at the scene by EMS.

 

“We know there were a large number of people standing outside in the parking lot of the Flux Ultra Lounge. We want to speak with anyone who was there that knows what led up to the shooting and the circumstances pertaining to this crime,” says Staff Sgt. Duane Hunter of Homicide Section.

 

Detectives are interviewing witnesses and the investigation continues.

 

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.

from Media Releases http://ift.tt/2gfymAW

Officers lay charges in case of child neglect

Edmonton Police Service Southeast Division officers have laid charges after a 4-year-old boy was found wandering the streets alone yesterday afternoon.

A citizen called police after finding the child walking alone in the area of Knottwood Road East and 13 Avenue between 3 and 4 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2017.

 

The EPS sent out a media advisory on the evening of Aug. 24 asking for the public’s help in identifying the child and his parents or caregivers, while the little boy remained in the care of the Northern Alberta Crisis Intervention Services Unit (NACIS) and the EPS Child at Risk Response Team (CARRT).

 

A family member and a friend called police when they saw the information in the media early this Friday morning (Aug. 25).  Officers attended the child’s home, which is located in Southeast Division, and located his parents. Three other children – ages 11 months, 7 years, 12 years and 15 years - were residing in the house.

 

The parents, a 43-year-old male and a 33-year-old female, are each charged with cause child to be in need of intervention (x5) under the Criminal Code and cause child to be drug endangered (x1) under the Drug Endangered Child Act (DECA).

 

The names of the adults cannot be released to protect the identity of the children.

 

Officers continue to investigate and Alberta Child and Family Services are involved.

from Media Releases http://ift.tt/2wOjLmj

Police seize .CA domain as part of online fraud investigation

The Edmonton Police Service has seized a .CA domain as part of an ongoing online fraud investigation.

On May 10, 2017 officers received a complaint regarding personal financial information that had allegedly been stolen and fraudulently used to make purchases. The information had reportedly been stolen following the complainant’s attempt to make a purchase on a website called Fazny (http://www.fazny.ca).

 

While completing a purchase at Fazny, the complainant received repeated errors indicating that the payment could not be processed. A short time later, suspicious purchases appeared on financial statements and the complainant reported the matter to police.

 

Following a complex investigation, the EPS Cyber Crimes Investigation Unit determined the complainant’s information had been stolen at fazny.ca. The website, which attracted consumers using Facebook ads, was reportedly selling computer accessories using images and product descriptions copied from other legitimate online retailers.

 

Pursuant to a court order, the Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA), the organization that manages the .CA domain on behalf of Canadians, facilitated officers seizing the domain and redirecting it to a police controlled server, effectively taking the fraudulent website offline.

 

“Seizing the domain serves two purposes; to identify further victims and to prevent further fraud,” says Const. Phil Hawkins of the Cyber Crimes Investigation Unit. “We believe others may also have been defrauded by this website and want to encourage them to report the incident(s) to their local law enforcement agency.”

 

Photos of the website are below. Officers continue to investigate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anyone who has 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.

 

from Media Releases http://ift.tt/2xzqu0z