By Sheldon Spackman

RCMP seize handguns and stolen vehicles at Wetaskiwin County chop-shop

Aug 24, 2018 | 6:08 PM

A number of people from central Alberta are facing charges after RCMP recovered stolen vehicles and a pair of handguns at a rural chop-shop in Wetaskiwin County Thursday.

The investigation began August 22 when Blackfalds RCMP informed Wetaskiwin Mounties of a stolen truck believed to be at a rural property in Wetaskiwin County.

Wetaskiwin RCMP attended the suspect property and located a stolen ATV leaving the scene. This led to an arrest and subsequent follow up at the property the next day where the initially reported stolen truck was found. Police say five individuals were arrested at the property.

On August 23, in cooperation with other units, Wetaskiwin RCMP searched the rural farmyard where several stolen vehicles were recovered, including four passenger vehicles, one R.V., and two ATVs.  Also seized from within the residence were two handguns, one of which was loaded.

Mounties secured the residence and called in external units for operational support including the Edmonton RCMP Auto Theft Section which attended to provide expertise in identifying stolen vehicles, given their state of disassembly.

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Also collaborating on the investigation and search were the Wetaskiwin Crime Reduction Unit, Wetaskiwin General Investigation Section and the Central Alberta District Crime Reduction Unit.  

Three men are facing charges while two others were released with no charges.

Clayton Dyllan Courtright, 19, of Ponoka is facing six criminal charges, including three of possession of property obtained by crime and three more counts of failing to comply with conditions of a Recognizance. Courtright is being held in custody pending a court date in Wetaskiwin September 11.

At the time of his arrest, RCMP say Courtright was also wanted on an arrest warrant for charges out of Ponoka. He is scheduled to appear in Ponoka Court September 14 in relation to those charges.

Cody James Estelle-Pittman, 25, of Rimbey is charged with three counts of possession of property obtained by crime and failing to comply with a probation order. Estelle-Pittman remains in custody and scheduled to be in Wetaskiwin Court August 28.

Gregory Allen Havig, 59, of Wetaskiwin faces five charges, including three counts of possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 and two counts of possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000. Havig was released from custody to attend Wetaskiwin Court September 11.

In addition, Mounties say one adult female was identified and will also be facing charges. She is said to have fled the property in a stolen vehicle which was later located abandoned. However, the 34-year-old woman has not been located as of yet. A warrant has been issued for her arrest.

“The outcome on this investigation is positive in that a notification from Blackfalds RCMP led to a substantial seizure and the uncovering of a rural chop shop” says Sergeant Corey Kyle, of the Wetaskiwin RCMP Detachment, in a press release. “Each unit who participated in this investigation contributed unique expertise and the joint efforts of all led to results. We have mitigated safety concerns by removing two handguns from the individuals involved.”

Police say their investigation continues and further charges are anticipated.