Just some of the drugs, weapons, cash, and contraband seized during a 30-day RCMP project focused on rural crime in central Alberta. (Alberta RCMP)

By rdnewsNOW staff

two dozen arrests

Guns, drugs, stolen items seized in central Alberta crime bust

Nov 25, 2020 | 7:29 PM

A month-long RCMP initiative focused on removing guns and drugs from the streets of rural central Alberta has been deemed a success.

The project dubbed ‘Project K CAD CDSA’ ran from Oct. 20 through Nov. 20.

Mounties say the seven-person Central Alberta District Crime Reduction Unit (CAD CRU) was joined by eight members of various area detachments who were seconded for the duration of the project, as well as RCMP Police Dog Services and the Drug Undercover Street Team.

Behind the scenes, police say intelligence gathering (including Crime Stoppers tips) was the initial momentum that led to continued investigative techniques including; surveillance, undercover operations and the execution of several search warrants.

Overall, the high volume project is said to have consisted of operations in Breton, Devon, Beaumont, Leduc, Wetaskiwin, Ponoka and Blackfalds.

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RCMP note, that seven different residences were subject to search warrants, and several arrests made roadside as a result of strategic traffic stops.

Contraband seized included:

• 10 guns, three of which were prohibited
• Over 500 grams of methamphetamine
• 130 grams of fentanyl
• 69 grams of heroin
• Cannabis / cocaine / hashish / psilocybin
• 30 cartons of tobacco
• A stolen UTV and utility trailer
• $7,887.00 cash

Mounties say the above drug seizures equate to a substantial amount of street ‘doses’ of the drugs.

The following 24 people were arrested and face a combined total of 235 criminal code and drug related charges:

• Randy Fletcher, 29, of Devon
• Casey Garrett, 22, of Leduc County
• Candace Hancock, 42, of Devon
• Tyler Pluim, 30, of Wetaskiwin
• Melissa Yellowbird, 47, of Mameo Beach
• Madison Mackay, 31, of Wetaskiwin
• Jessica Macleod, 29, of Leduc
• Benjamin Sawin, 40, of Leduc
• Victoria Spears, 29, of Leduc
• Scott Tetreault, 24, of Leduc
• Jesse Cole, 35, of Wetaskiwin
• Maurice Cole, 62, of Wetaskiwin
• Jennifer Mantai, 33, of Wetaskiwin
• Beryle Pledge, 65, of Wetaskiwin
• Crystal Blanchard, 35, of Ponoka
• Lauren Curtis, 41, of Ponoka
• Clinton Hosler, 56, of Wetaskiwin
• Spencer Halstead, 19, of Beaumont
• Faith Van Ry, 20, of Edmonton
• Sean Pluim, 32, of Wetaskiwin
• Collin Wark, 57, of Millet
• Robert Kay, 34, of Wetaskiwin
• Summer Saddleback, 23, of Wetaskiwin

Also, a 16-year-old male from Ponoka who cannot be named. Police say eight arrest warrants were executed.

“This project was all about flushing out the repeat offenders who try to hide in small towns and cause havoc in those towns,” says Cpl. Will Hiscock, NCO in charge of the CAD CRU, in a press release. “We’re actively out there to get guns and drugs off the street. These criminals may come back to the rural areas, but so will we.”