By Sheldon Spackman

Ponoka man charged in multiple rural break and enters

Sep 1, 2018 | 12:13 PM

A Ponoka man known to police and described as a repeat offender is now behind bars awaiting upcoming court appearances following his arrest near Joffre this week.

Michael Allan Richter, 39, was arrested with the help of RCMP’s Police Dog Services (PDS) on August 29 after Blackfalds Mounties responded to a suspicious person complaint in Lacombe County.

It’s alleged the male suspect was on a rural property attempting to steal fuel.

Police located the man but say he fled to a neighbouring vacant property, so PDS attended and containment was set up in the area.

The suspect was tracked to an outbuilding where he had been hiding and arrested with the assistance of Bashaw RCMP and PDS. He was then transported to Blackfalds Detachment where he was treated by EMS for minor injuries sustained during the arrest.

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Mounties says the suspect is linked to several other investigations including an incident on August 1 where Bashaw RCMP were called to a break and enter and vehicle theft at a rural property east of Bashaw.

It’s alleged the suspect entered a residence and severely injured a dog which later had to be euthanized. Various items including a vehicle were stolen but the vehicle broke down police say which resulted in the suspect returning to the residence and stealing another vehicle.

RCMP say the suspect was later identified as being responsible for a number of rural break and enters and thefts in multiple jurisdictions including Bashaw, Wetaskiwin, Blackfalds and Rimbey.

Richter faces 11 charges in relation to the August 29 incident near Joffre and was wanted on two outstanding warrants from Wetaskiwin and Bashaw at the time of his arrest. He now faces a total of 41 counts, including break and enter with intent – business, possession of break-in instruments, resist/obstruct a peace officer, possession of a prohibited weapon, possession of property obtained by crime and failing to comply with probation orders among others.

Richter is to appear in both Wetaskiwin and Red Deer Provincial Courts September 4.