COURT BRIEFS: September 6

No further details about the incident have been released.

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An Innisfail woman accused of stealing more than $54,000 from her employer over the course of two years has pleaded not guilty.

Pamela Bernard, 38, faces 11 counts that include fraud exceeding $5,000 (x3), fraud under $5,000 (x2), theft under $5,000 (x2), theft over $5,000 (x2) and falsification of books/documents.

Bernard entered not guilty pleas in Red Deer provincial court on Aug. 30 and will face trial by judge coming up on Nov. 4.

Red Deer RCMP allege Bernard stole the money between September 2015 and 2017 while serving as the executive director of a local member association, which police did not name, and that she stole it for personal use.

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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’s due back in court for a preliminary hearing on Feb. 27, 2020.

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A Rocky Mountain House man accused of luring a child two years ago, and who was to stand trial this week in Red Deer, has pleaded guilty.

Tyler Cumberland, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to one count of luring a child. His next scheduled court appearance is Nov. 4.

Cumberland was arrested in Nov. 2017 by the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team’s Internet Child Exploitation (ALERT ICE) unit over allegations of sexualized online chats involving a 12-year-old girl.

Police said at the time that the two had met through social media and that the accused was aware the girl was underage. Explicit chats and photos were later discovered by the girl’s parents, who then called police.

A subsequent search of a home in Rocky Mountain House led to the seizure of a number of electronic devices police said contained evidence in relation to the case.

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An arrest warrant has been issued after a Red Deer man accused of pulling a knife on RCMP officers failed to appear in court this week.

Steven Bach, 29, is charged with assaulting a peace officer with a weapon, causing a disturbance, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, failing to comply with probation, and resisting arrest.

He failed to appear in court on Sept. 4.

Mounties say the incident in question took place around 3:30 p.m. on July 1 when members responded to reports of a man causing a disturbance near the Safe Harbour warming centre on 53 Avenue.

Once on scene, police say the suspect ran inside the warming shelter and tried to barricade himself inside, pulling a knife on officers when they approached.

An officer drew their taser during the incident, but did not use it as the suspect surrendered the knife.

by Troy Gillard

COURT BRIEFS: September 6

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