By rdnewsNOW staff

Man passed out in stolen vehicle was possessing fentanyl: Ponoka RCMP

Jul 31, 2018 | 9:31 AM

PONOKA- A 43-year-old man faces charges after he was found passed out in a stolen vehicle near Ponoka over the weekend.

On July 29, RCMP responded to a complaint at a rural residence that an unknown man was non-responsive in a vehicle on the complainant’s property. 

The homeowner had a concern about the vehicle on his property and called 911 for assistance. Mounties attended, effected an arrest, recovered stolen property and laid charges.

A search of the driver and the vehicle police discovered a small quantity of drugs, including what is believed to be fentanyl and two containers of pepper spray. 

Further investigation revealed that the license plate and the vehicle were both reported stolen. Another stolen license plate was also found.

Individuals aged 55 and over

Central Alberta Older Adult Employment Strategy Assessment Project full report released

4h ago

UPDATE

Red Deer Polytechnic confirms student death on-campus

8h ago

retrofitting building

Carnival Cinemas applies to rezone for residential development

9h ago

The vehicle, a Mercedes Benz SUV, had been reported stolen in Edmonton and RCMP determined that it was also involved in an incident in Cochrane on July 28..

Michael John Castle is charged with three counts of possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, three counts of possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000, two counts of unauthorized possession of a prohibited weapon and two counts of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose. Castle is also charged under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, all in relation to the incident in Ponoka.

In relation to the earlier incident in Cochrane, Castle is charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and operation of a motor vehicle while being pursued by police.

“We are glad the homeowner called us for assistance and even more pleased with being able to solve this investigation and recover a stolen vehicle” says Sergeant Chris Smiley of the Ponoka RCMP Detachment.  “This is an example of offenders crossing jurisdictions and our ongoing commitment to sharing intelligence and disrupting criminal behaviour”.

Castle remains in custody and appears in Wetaskiwin Provincial Court on August 2.