Alberta RCMP arrested 14 priority offenders and laid more than 40 new criminal charges during a provincewide enforcement initiative targeting crime linked to critical infrastructure.

The operation, known as an Industry Blitz, was carried out between Nov. 24 and Dec. 5 and focused on individuals suspected of offences involving oil, electricity and other critical infrastructure sites, according to Alberta RCMP.

Multiple specialized units took part in the blitz, including Crime Reduction Units from all four Alberta RCMP districts, the Alberta RCMP Community Response Team, Air Services, Police Dog Services, the Emergency Response Team and local detachments.

RCMP say the operation resulted in the execution of more than half a dozen arrest warrants, the recovery of six stolen vehicles and multiple offenders being remanded into custody.

The enforcement effort focused on individuals ranked by RCMP as priority offenders — a designation based on the level of harm an individual causes in communities. Alberta RCMP maintain a database of approximately 85,000 offenders, ranked using a matrix developed by its Strategic Analysis and Research Unit that applies the Uniform Crime Severity Index to individuals rather than communities.

Several notable arrests were made during the blitz across southern, central and northern Alberta.

In the Lethbridge area, Adam Filipcic, 36, of Claresholm, was arrested after fleeing police during a theft investigation involving stolen lumber. With assistance from RCMP Air Services, police followed the suspect to an associate’s residence, where he was arrested. Filipcic faces multiple charges including theft, dangerous driving, flight from police and weapons-related offences, and was remanded into custody.

In the Edson area, Tyler Van Nes, 46, was arrested on outstanding warrants related to failing to comply with probation orders and was remanded into custody. Kyle Schellenberger, 36, also of Edson, was arrested on warrants related to stolen property, assault and failing to comply with release conditions, and was later released on conditions.

In Drayton Valley, RCMP recovered two stolen vehicles and arrested two suspects with the assistance of Air Services after a theft involving a vehicle left running outside a business. Charges are pending against a 23-year-old man from Sunchild First Nation.

In Parkland County, police intercepted two stolen vehicles leaving a priority offender’s residence. With assistance from multiple RCMP units, two repeat offenders were arrested following a coordinated pursuit that included a police vehicle being rammed and the use of a tire deflation device. Christopher Stebbings, 18, of Spring Lake, and Aaron Robertson, 33, of no fixed address, were both charged with multiple offences and remanded into custody.

Additional arrests were made in Mayerthorpe, Sedgewick and Yellowhead County involving stolen vehicles, outstanding warrants and breaches of release conditions. Those arrested include Allan Brick, 60, of Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation; Eugene Galang, 29, of Sedgewick; and Matthew David Harris, 43, of Edson.

Staff Sgt. Luke Halvorson, non-commissioned officer in charge of community safety, said the coordinated approach allows RCMP to target prolific offenders more effectively.

“These operations are very important to the safety of Albertans as they allow for the use of varied specialized units to target prolific and priority offenders and thus being proactive in our policing approach,” Halvorson said. “We observed that though offenders nomadic and travel across Alberta to find local partners to continue to proliferate their crimes. Thanks to the resources available to the Alberta RCMP, we are able to efficiently coordinate investigations such as these and make sure that, no matter where a criminal commits their crimes, we will be there to catch them”.

Read more from Alberta RCMP

Missing persons, crime, accidents, fire, death investigations and more.

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RCMP Crime Map

View approximate locations of thefts, break and enters, missing persons and high-crime areas in Alberta using the RCMP Crime Map at https://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/en/crime-map.

If you see a crime in progress or need police assistance in an emergency, call 911.

Anonymous reporting through Crime Stoppers and cash rewards

Crime Stoppers allows tip sharing without disclosing personal information. An ID number and password are provided to follow up on tip status or add details.

Cash rewards of up to $2,000 may be available for tips leading to an arrest. Higher payouts apply to serious crimes such as murder, sexual assault, drug and weapon seizures, and human trafficking.

Tips can be shared by calling 1-800-222-8477 or by submitting a tip online at https://www.p3tips.com.

Online crime reporting (under $5,000)

Victims of property crime such as theft or vandalism under $5,000 can file a report at any time using the RCMP online crime reporting system at https://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/en/report-crime.

Information about illegal activity can also be shared with local detachments:

Pincher Creek RCMP – 403-627-6000
Crowsnest Pass RCMP – 403-562-2866
Piikani Nation RCMP – 403-965-2000

A full list of Alberta RCMP detachments is available at https://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/en/alberta-detachments, and RCMP detachments across Canada can be found at https://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/en/detachments.