By rdnewsNOW Staff

Mounties Get Their Man

Rocky RCMP charge man for extensive damage to local auto dealership

Jun 16, 2021 | 1:52 PM

A man from the O’Chiese First Nation is facing numerous charges following a series of incidents that saw two vehicles stolen and one of them being used to crash into a local dealership, causing hundreds of thousands of dollars damage.

On June 15, at 1:42 a.m., Rocky Mountain House RCMP received an alarm call from Edward’s Garage Chevrolet dealership, located in Rocky Mountain House.

Mounties attended and observed extensive damages to the business as a stolen pick-up truck had been driven through the showroom and then abandoned outside the business. Police say the pick-up truck had been stolen out of Red Deer the day before.

Further investigation showed the suspect had stolen another vehicle, a new GMC Sierra, from Edward’s Garage Chevrolet dealership, causing further damages in an effort to exit the showroom, fleeing in an unknown direction.

The estimated damages to the vehicles and all property involved in this incident are said to exceed $200,000.

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Rocky Mountain House RCMP located the stolen GMC Sierra on Highway 11 and attempted a vehicle stop; however, the suspect failed to stop for police. A tire deflation device was used in the area of Swanson road to disable the vehicle, which was located empty.

The RCMP Police Dog Service and Rocky RCMP officers conducted a search that resulted in locating and arresting the suspect.

Waylon Daniel Whitford, 27, is facing the following charges related to the above incident:

• Break and enter commit theft
• Theft of motor vehicle
• Possession of stolen property exceeding $5,000
• Mischief over $5,000 (x2)
• Flight from police
• Operate conveyance in a manner dangerous to the public
• Operate a conveyance while prohibited
• Possession of a weapon for a purpose dangerous to the public
• Resist arrest
• Fail to comply with conditions of release (x8)
• Break and enter commit theft
• Mischief under $5,000

Mounties say Whitford is also facing additional charges related to a number of incidents prior to the above noted incident.

Following a judicial hearing related to another investigation, Whitford was released from police custody on June 14, at approximately 5:15 p.m., on conditions that included a driving prohibition.

However, on June 14, at 5:25 p.m., Red Deer RCMP received a complaint of a stolen Dodge pick-up truck in the area of 49 Street and 54 Avenue. Police confirm this was the pick-up truck that was used in the incident on June 15 at the Edward’s Garage Chevrolet dealership. Red Deer RCMP continue to investigate this stolen vehicle complaint.

Following a judicial hearing on the Rocky Mountain House matter, police say Whitford was remanded into custody and is scheduled to attend Rocky Mountain House Provincial Court on June 16.