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UPDATES ON LOCAL CASES

Court Briefs: March 5

Mar 5, 2020 | 4:19 PM

A Red Deer man charged after an RCMP vehicle was rammed into and an officer dragged in Penhold is now scheduled for trial.

The incident happened around 11:00 p.m. on December 16, 2018 when Mounties on patrol noted a vehicle idling outside the Penholder Tavern. Police ran a check and noted the license plate on it was registered to a different vehicle.

The male driver and lone occupant of the vehicle became agitated when approached by officers, yelling at them before backing his vehicle into the front of the fully-marked police vehicle parked behind him.

When police tried to make an arrest, the driver fled resulting in an officer being dragged approximately 15 feet, sustaining minor injuries.

RCMP later located the vehicle in Red Deer and the male was arrested without further incident.

Chasetin Morin, 25, pleaded guilty in Red Deer provincial court last week to obstructing a peace officer, possession of stolen property under $5,000 and breach of recognizance.

The matter had previously been headed towards a resolution. But instead a trial has now been scheduled for May 12, 2020 in Red Deer provincial court.

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A man charged after the ATB Financial branch in Alix was robbed by someone who fled on a snowmobile will face a preliminary hearing.

The robbery occurred on the morning of Dec. 20, 2019 at the hands of a man wearing a mask and gloves and carrying a machete and long-barreled firearm.

RCMP said the man escaped the bank with an undisclosed amount of cash before fleeing riding a snowmobile.

On Dec. 23, police identified a man already in Ponoka RCMP custody as a possible suspect. Mounties obtained a search warrant of the man’s Ponoka area home and found evidence linking him to the Alix armed robbery.

Michael Allan Richter, 40, of Ponoka, is charged with 10 counts in relation to the armed robbery; including robbery with a firearm, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose (x2), possession of a firearm while prohibited, and fail to comply with a probation order (x2).

Richter was also wanted on outstanding warrants for other matters at the time of his arrest.

He will face a preliminary hearing, to determine whether his case will proceed to trial, May 27, 2020 in Stettler provincial court.

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Trial has been ordered for a Lacombe man accused of assaulting and choking his female companion while camping near Innisfail has pleaded not guilty.

It was just before 1 a.m. on July 12 when police were called by distraught female camping where the Red Deer River and Medicine River meet.

Mounties said the woman was stuck on the south side of the river and could not leave the situation.

Innisfail RCMP called on several agencies for help during the incident due to high river flow at the scene.

Fritz Solberg, 38, is charged with assault causing bodily harm, choking to overcome resistance, intimidation, uttering threats and theft under $5,000.

Solberg entered not guilty pleas in Red Deer provincial court on Aug. 29. He was ordered to stand trial following a preliminary hearing held in Red Deer on Feb. 27.

Trial dates have yet to be scheduled.

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A Rocky Mountain House man arrested in a drug trafficking bust in December 2018 will be going to trial.

The arrests came at the conclusion of a multi-agency investigation led by Red Deer RCMP that resulted in seizures made in Red Deer, Calgary, Rocky Mountain House and Carstairs.

The seized drugs, firearms and cash were estimated to be worth $300,000.

“This is a significant drugs seizure for Red Deer and Central Alberta,” said Superintendent Gerald Grobmeier, Officer in Charge of the Red Deer RCMP, said at the time.

David Callan, 62, will face trial in Red Deer Court of Queen’s Bench on Jan. 4-5, 2021.

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