Inspector Heidi Ravenhill and Sgt. Robert Daisley. (rdnewsNOW/Ashley Lavallee-Koenig)

By Ashley Lavallee-Koenig

1.3 KG OF METHAMPHETAMINES

RCMP Crime Reduction Team makes notable drug seizure

May 31, 2024 | 3:29 PM

The RCMP Crime Reduction Team has made a significant seizure of multiple street drugs and a loaded firearm from a vehicle being operated by a suspect known to police.

On May 29, the team seized more than 1.3 kilograms of methamphetamines; small amounts of cocaine, Xanax, GHB, and oxycodone; a loaded 9mm handgun; and a taser.

“In the work that we do on a daily basis, almost all of the crimes that we’re dealing with, the property crimes, are driven by methamphetamine addiction. Almost every offender that we arrest is either using or has been using methamphetamines and that seems to be the nexus, or the raison d’être, for the crime is to satisfy those addictions,” said Sgt. Robert Daisley. “By helping to remove some of these drugs from the street hopefully we can prevent some victimization and help the community to feel safer.”

RCMP officers observed a previous offender operating a motor vehicle while prohibited to do so. Given the individual’s history of dangerous driving while fleeing from police, including ramming a police vehicle, they conducted surveillance until support could be brought in for the arrest.

Sgt. Daisley said this manner of arrest, being a property concern that revealed additional offences, is representative of recent trends.

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“Much of the work that the Red Deer Crime Reduction Team does is based on property offences, looking for stolen vehicles and that type of thing, and those investigations commonly spin off into other types of crime including firearms and drugs,” he said.

The suspect exited the vehicle and was arrested safely with assistance from the Calgary Police Services HAWCS helicopter, Innisfail RCMP, Police Dog Services, the RCMP Emergency Response Team, and RCMP Central Alberta District Crime Reduction Team.

”A great deal of effort and resources were used to safely arrest this repeated offender who has previously demonstrated a willingness to put the public at risk while fleeing apprehension. Focusing our policing resources at offenders such as this truly does have an impact on our community,” said Inspector Heidi Ravenhill, operations support officer.

The suspect, 38-year-old Red Deer resident Mitchell Lewis Engler, has been charged with the following:

• Possession of body armour
• Driving while prohibited (two counts)
• Weapons offences (six counts)
• Possession for the purpose of trafficking in a controlled substance (five counts)
• Possession of property obtained by crime under $5000
• Possession of a controlled substance

Engler was taken before a justice of the peace and remanded into custody with his next court date set for June 4, 2024, at the Alberta Court of Justice in Red Deer.

Sgt. Daisley says the seizure is larger than what they would expect to see on a routine basis, but that further investigation needs to be done to determine if it is part of a larger criminal organization.

He also encourages residents to report any suspicious activity they observe in their neighbourhoods and avoid leaving valuables or garage door openers in their vehicles.

Related: Innisfail man described by police as ‘known repeat offender’, sentenced to 75 days

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