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How to protect farm fuel and equipment from theft this harvest

Written on . Posted in RCMP & Public Safety.

As farmers across southwestern Alberta work to finish the harvest, Alberta RCMP are reminding them to keep an eye on their fuel.

Alberta RCMP say fuel and equipment are often left unattended in fields and other remote spots during busy seasons like seeding and harvest. Those places are harder to watch and can give thieves an opening, but a few simple precautions can discourage theft and make suspicious activity easier to spot.

Light it up

  • Improve lighting around fuel storage areas and equipment, including motion-activated lights near tanks, pumps and dispensing areas.
  • Make sure yard lights reach fuel and equipment storage, and replace burned-out bulbs promptly.
  • Consider solar-powered lights where electrical access is limited.

Lock it down

  • Use durable, weather-resistant locks on tank caps, valves and access points, and lock pumps and dispensing equipment when they aren’t in use.
  • Consider anti-siphon devices or valves to make it harder to remove fuel.
  • Put fuel-cap locks on tractors, combines, trucks and other equipment that may be left unattended.
  • Remove keys and secure equipment whenever it isn’t being used.

Keep track

  • Check fuel inventory and tank levels regularly so a theft or loss shows up quickly.
  • Compare fuel use with the work being done in the field.
  • Look into any unexplained drop in fuel levels right away.
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Keep watch

  • When practical, park equipment where it can be seen from nearby homes or buildings.
  • Consider cameras or trail cameras for equipment that has to stay in remote locations.
  • Post signs saying the property is monitored by video surveillance, where that applies.

Report it

Police ask that stolen fuel or equipment be reported as soon as possible. Prompt reports help officers gather information while it’s fresh and spot connections between thefts in neighbouring rural areas.

In the Pincher Creek area, call the Pincher Creek RCMP detachment at 403-627-6000. In Crowsnest Pass, call the Crowsnest Pass RCMP detachment at 403-562-2866. Call 911 if a crime is in progress.

Alberta RCMP share more safety tips on Facebook at @RCMPinAlberta and on X at @RCMPAlberta.

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Agriculture, Agriculture and Rural Life, Farm Safety, Fuel Theft, Rural Crime, Rural Crime Watch

The image features the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) crest on a background of blue and red police lights, with the text "Crowsnest Pass RCMP" in bold white letters on a black banner.

Crowsnest Pass RCMP search for missing two-year-old boy

Written on . Posted in RCMP & Public Safety.

Update – June 18 @12:18 a.m.

The missing child was located and is safe.

*** Original Post  – June 17 @ 10:35 p.m. ***

Crowsnest Pass RCMP are asking for the public’s help to find a missing two-year-old boy.

He is described as Caucasian with reddish hair and was last seen wearing purple pyjamas.

If you see this child, please call 911 immediately.

No further details (location last seen or photo) have been provided but will be posted here when updated.

Missing Persons

Crowsnest Pass RCMP heading with RCMP logo on background of red and blue lights

Assaults, threats rise sharply in latest Crowsnest Pass RCMP report

Written on . Posted in Civic & Government, RCMP & Public Safety.

Crimes against persons rose significantly in the Crowsnest Pass detachment area during the final quarter of 2025, according to an RCMP report covering Oct. 1 to Dec. 31.

Police recorded 66 offences against persons during the period, a 57 per cent increase from 42 in the same quarter of 2024, and an 89 per cent increase compared to 2021. Assaults accounted for more than half of those incidents, climbing to 34 files, up 62 per cent year-over-year and more than triple the number reported in 2021.

Uttering threats rose to 18 occurrences, a 200 per cent increase from six reported in 2024. Sexual assaults declined to one reported incident, down 50 per cent from the previous year. Criminal harassment decreased slightly to nine files, a 10 per cent drop year-over-year.

Sgt. Mark Amatto says increases in assault and uttering threats are often connected to domestic violence investigations and more in-depth file review.

“If someone reports an assault, as we conduct the investigation it may develop that there are other components, such as uttering threats,” Amatto tells Shootin’ the Breeze.

“We’re encouraging people to come forward and report domestic violence as they’re comfortable. The deeper we look into those investigations, the more complete the file becomes.”

Overall, the detachment handled 590 files during the quarter. Total Criminal Code offences reached 156, an increase of 12 per cent from 139 in the same quarter of 2024 and 34 per cent higher than in 2021.

Event poster for a Secondhand Dreamcar concert at the Empress Theatre on November 20, 2026, at 7:30 PM, featuring a photo of the band members.

Property crime showed an overall decline. Total property offences dropped to 55, a 14 per cent decrease from 64 in 2024. Break-and-enters fell to four occurrences, down 43 per cent year-over-year.

Theft under $5,000 declined to eight incidents, a 27 per cent decrease. Theft over $5,000 dropped 60 per cent to two files.

Mischief-related offences remained relatively steady, with 10 incidents involving damage to property and 18 categorized as other mischief.

Motor vehicle collisions increased significantly compared to the previous year. A total of 85 collisions were reported, up 60 per cent from 53 in 2024. The total included six injury collisions and one fatal collision on Highway 3 in Piikani, involving a deceased person from the Crowsnest Pass area.

Amatto says collisions can result from a range of factors including speed, winter driving conditions, road rage and minor parking lot incidents.

“Speed is typically a factor,” he said, adding that visibility patrols and traffic enforcement remain ongoing efforts along the Highway 3 corridor.

During the quarter, officers issued 55 tickets and 41 warnings. Provincial traffic files totalled 166, representing an 11 per cent decrease from the previous year.

Violence in relationships remains a policing priority. Members responded to 42 domestic violence-related calls during the reporting period.

A bearded man in a cap smiles while playing guitar. Text promotes a Lloyd Spiegel concert at Empress Theatre, October 14, 2026, with ticket details and contact info.

“We’d actually like to see an even higher number,” Amatto says. “If we see more people coming forward, that means they’re becoming more comfortable reporting and we can intervene earlier.”

Crowsnest Pass does not have a women’s shelter, and victims are typically referred to facilities in Pincher Creek or High River when required. Victim services support is offered in all applicable cases.

Mental Health Act-related files totalled 19 during the quarter, a 24 per cent decrease from 25 in 2024. Total provincial statistics declined 24 per cent year-over-year to 35 files.

As of Dec. 31, 2025, the detachment had nine established regular member positions, with six officers working, two on parental leave and one hard vacancy. Of three detachment support positions, two were filled, with one hard vacancy.

 

Strong local journalism matters to Canadian communities

This article was reported and written by Shootin’ the Breeze’s Local Journalism Initiative reporter. 

The Local Journalism Initiative is a federally funded program that supports original public-interest journalism in smaller or underserved communities across Canada. Content produced through the initiative is editorially independent and may be shared by other Canadian media outlets.

Stories like this are reported to keep readers informed and connected — and to reflect real Canadian life.

Alberta | AB, Crime Statistics

Crowsnest Pass RCMP heading with RCMP logo on background of red and blue lights

Noise, traffic top Crowsnest Pass 2025 enforcement calls

Written on . Posted in Civic & Government, RCMP & Public Safety.

Noise complaints, property standards concerns and traffic violations topped the list of enforcement calls in the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass in 2025, according to newly released municipal statistics.

The year-end snapshot records 429 requests for service, offering a window into the types of day-to-day issues community peace officers manage while balancing education, compliance and enforcement.

The municipality shared the figures as part of a commitment to provide regular public updates on enforcement activity.

“We’ll share month-to-month trends and tips to help prevent issues before they happen,” said the social media post.

A closer look at the data shows moving violations were the single largest enforcement category, with 239 provincial traffic offences recorded.

Community standards matters followed closely at 196 files, while officers handled 131 noise complaints — categories that largely reflect neighbour-driven concerns and quality-of-life issues.

Animal control generated 95 calls, alongside 67 unsightly premises files tied to property upkeep. Traffic and parking bylaw matters accounted for 48 cases, while wildlife attractant enforcement recorded 26 incidents.

Additional service calls included 23 assists to members of the public, eight motor vehicle collisions, five business licensing matters, four burning-related files, four provincial animal protection incidents, three impaired driving cases and 146 other provincial matters such as trespassing or environmental concerns.

An older couple smiles while leaning on a wooden railing outdoors, above text describing their $879 profit share from Vision Credit Union and a website link.

While ticket counts are one visible measure of enforcement, Sgt. Ben Dutton of Protective Services’ enforcement branch said many complaints are resolved without issuing violations.

“Often the reporting person will not want a ticket issued to their neighbour and want an alternative solution,” Dutton tells Shootin’ the Breeze.

Instead, officers frequently seek compliance through conversations, warnings or written notices, escalating enforcement only when corrective action is not taken within the specified timeframe.

Dutton says the peace officer program is intentionally focused on education and redirection to gain compliance with municipal bylaws rather than relying solely on punitive measures.

Traffic enforcement, the largest activity category, is divided between provincial and municipal authority.

“The majority of moving violations will be enforced with provincial authorities under the Traffic Safety Act, while most parking matters and other municipality-specific offences are enforced under the traffic bylaw,” Dutton says.

Beyond complaint-driven work, wildlife attractants represent an area where officers take a proactive approach. Dutton says patrols regularly monitor garbage routes to ensure attractants are properly secured and not placed out prematurely, reflecting ongoing safety concerns tied to wildlife activity in the Pass.

Enforcement decisions may also escalate when issues persist. Dutton confirms that repeat complaints involving the same individuals or properties can result in a more enforcement-focused response when earlier efforts fail to achieve compliance.

Poster for Pincher Creek Chamber’s 31st Annual Awards of Excellence on October 23, 2026. Ticket prices and event details are listed, with a link for tickets at PincherChamber.ca/tickets.

Operational capacity shaped service delivery during the year as well. Dutton says the program was not fully staffed for much of 2025, though recent recruiting and training efforts are expected to support more complete coverage moving forward.

Looking at the broader picture, Dutton says enforcement challenges remain part of serving a growing community, but he points to improvements achieved through engagement and collaboration.

He emphasizes that tickets alone do not necessarily resolve underlying issues, describing the CPO role as a balance between enforcement and community problem-solving.

 

Strong local journalism matters to Canadian communities

This article was reported and written by Shootin’ the Breeze’s Local Journalism Initiative reporter. 

The Local Journalism Initiative is a federally funded program that supports original public-interest journalism in smaller or underserved communities across Canada. Content produced through the initiative is editorially independent and may be shared by other Canadian media outlets.

Stories like this are reported to keep readers informed and connected — and to reflect real Canadian life.

Alberta | AB, Crime Statistics

Crowsnest Pass RCMP heading with RCMP logo on background of red and blue lights

Two men charged after disturbance at Coleman bar

Written on . Posted in RCMP & Public Safety.

Two men are facing charges after a disturbance at the Grand Union in Coleman on Feb. 16.

Crowsnest Pass RCMP responded to a report of two males arguing with staff. Two witnesses attempted to intervene and were met with threats and physical harm.

Both men were arrested and held for a justice interim bail hearing.

Erik Bogeholt, 38, is charged with mischief under $5,000, uttering threats and conspiring to commit an indictable offence.

Michal Bonk, 36, is charged with mischief under $5,000, uttering threats, conspiring to commit an indictable offence and assault.

Both have been remanded into custody until their next court appearance on Feb. 19 in Lethbridge.

RCMP say they have engaged partnership agencies including Canada Border Services Agency and Interpol.

Alberta | AB, Canada Border Services Agency | CBSA, Coleman | Crowsnest Pass – Alberta, Crime, Crowsnest Pass – Alberta

The image features the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) crest on a background of blue and red police lights, with the text "Crowsnest Pass RCMP" in bold white letters on a black banner.

Traffic stop turns violent as driver assaults Crowsnest Pass officer

Written on . Posted in RCMP & Public Safety.

A Calgary man faces multiple charges after allegedly assaulting a Crowsnest Pass RCMP officer and fleeing on foot during a traffic stop.

Crowsnest Pass RCMP responded to reports of an erratic driver on Highway 22 south of Highway 520 around 4:20 p.m. Jan. 8. Initial reports suggested the driver may have been impaired.

Officers located the vehicle and approached. An officer observed a man walk by the trunk while another sat in the passenger seat. The officer smelled alcohol and placed the man under arrest.

The man resisted and assaulted the officer before fleeing the scene on foot, according to Crowsnest Pass RCMP.

Alberta RCMP Police Dog Services arrived and deployed a police dog, which tracked and subdued the man. The suspect sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to hospital.

Robert Val-Lane Edwards, 58, of Calgary, was charged with assaulting a police officer, resisting arrest, obstruction, prohibited operation of a motor vehicle, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and refusal of an approved screening device demand.

Edwards was brought before a justice of the peace and remanded into custody. He is scheduled to appear in Alberta Court of Justice in Lethbridge on Jan. 12.

Event flyer for International Credit Union Day at Vision Credit Union on October 15, inviting community members to bring food bank donations in exchange for a wall calendar.

Read More from Alberta RCMP

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

RCMP Crime Map

View approximate locations of thefts, break and enters, missing persons and high-crime areas in Alberta here.

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

Call in your tip: 1-800-222-8477
Submit tip online

Online crime reporting (under $5,000)

If you are the victim of property crime such as theft or vandalism under $5,000, online reporting is available 24/7.

Contact your local RCMP or Crime Stoppers with information about illegal activity.

Alberta | AB, Calgary – Alberta, Crime, Crowsnest Pass – Alberta, Impaired Driving

Young boy with short brown hair wearing red shirt smiling near water with rocky shoreline in background

Family details circumstances of Darius Macdougall disappearance

Written on . Posted in RCMP & Public Safety.

The family of missing six-year-old Darius Macdougall has released a statement detailing the circumstances of his disappearance and addressing public speculation about the Sept. 21 incident.

Vanessa Collett, speaking for the family, posted a statement to the Bring Darius Macdougall Home Facebook page on Oct. 14.

Darius went missing from a family camping trip in the Livingstone Public Land Use Zone near Tent Mountain Road. Exhaustive efforts by RCMP, search-and-rescue teams and independent searchers have provided no clues to what happened to the Lethbridge boy.

 

Young boy with short brown hair wearing red shirt smiling near water with rocky shoreline in background

Six-year-old Darius Macdougall of Lethbridge as he looked in September 2025, prior to going missing.

Photo courtesy of Bring Darius Macdougall Home Facebook page

Family camping trip

Extended family members gathered to celebrate birthdays that weekend in the backcountry camping area, according to the statement.

Darius arrived Sept. 19 with his father, Dallas, his father’s girlfriend, Buffy, and Buffy’s daughter Kya. Grandparents, aunties, uncles and cousins filled out the group. Darius’ mother, Maegan was not present at the campground.

RCMP reported Darius was walking with six youth family members, with no adults present, when he disappeared.

Collett says the children were playing on an island adjacent to the camp, just across the creek, while the adults packed up. “The adults could see them.”

“Darius, Kya and an unnamed cousin were walking/playing together with other kids close by,” says Collett. “They turned their backs and Darius was gone.”

Ace of spades card on ad for Chase the Ace at the Pincher Creek Legion

Search efforts

Search and rescue were setting up within 20 minutes of the grandmother’s call to 911,” says Collett.

“We searched long into the night the first day, hoping for a quick resolve to a very scary incident,” she says. “The family had searched tirelessly and with extreme effort, often going until they physically couldn’t go any longer. We worked side-by-side with SAR, eliminating each section of the map.”

Buffy spent hours searching with the family while Dallas remained at camp as per RCMP’s request, says Collett.

Maegan (Darius’ mother) also came to the mountain and worked with RCMP.

 

Young boy with short brown hair wearing blue and grey hoodie holding item outdoors in wooded area

Darius Macdougall was wearing this blue and grey hoodie when he went missing on Sept. 21, 2025.

Young boy with short brown hair wearing green Grinch shirt and blue sweatpants

When Darius went missing he was wearing this green Grinch T-shirt, the dark sweatpants and Paw Patrol croc shoes.

Photo courtesy of the Bring Darius Macdougall Home Facebook page

 

At least 20 to 25 adult family members were present in the first week to assist with the search, according to the statement.

RCMP and SAR Alberta wrapped up the official search on Oct. 1, but Darius’ family and people from the Crowsnest Pass area and beyond continue searching for him.

Adam Kennedy of Search and Rescue Alberta  said Oct. 1 that teams had covered about 22 square kilometres, scouring the rough terrain on the ground, from the air and in the water.

No clothing, no footprints, no signs of Darius were found.

“There’s no indication that foul play is involved, we’ve just exhausted all search tactics,” Cpl. Gina Slaney, RCMP public information officer, said that day.

Two volunteer teams of cadaver dogs searched the backcountry area over the Thanksgiving weekend. No trace of Darius was detected.

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Highway not secured

The family claims the campground and highway were not locked down properly during critical hours after Darius went missing.

“There is a chance he is no longer in the area and we are asking the public to share his photos and place his posters everywhere,” Collett says.

Highway footage at the nearby Highway 3 intersection was collected and reviewed and Collett says trails cameras in the area have been reviewed or requested from owners. Drivers have been asked to share Sept. 21 dashcam footage with RCMP.

The family continues to search and is focusing on sharing Darius’s photo across Canada.

Darius stands about four feet tall and has short brown hair.

 

Young boy with short brown hair wearing red shirt smiling near water with rocky shoreline in background

Darius is missing his front teeth and wore this hairstyle at the time of his disappearance.

Photo courtesy of the Bring Darius Macdougall Home Facebook page

Privacy and public scrutiny

The family requested privacy to safeguard themselves and the other young children involved after suspicion and accusations were directed toward them on social media.

Collett says while “the family had natural fears and questions at first, especially the mother who wasn’t present,” they are united in their concern for Darius.

The statement comes after another tragedy for the family. Buffy’s daughter Kya, also six, died in a separate incident last week.

“Instead of the mother being focused on grieving a tragic loss, the community has chosen to attack her,” says Collett.

“This was an unexpected, horrible tragedy for a family already feeling broken from Darius’s disappearance.”

The family thanked staff at Pincher Creek hospital, STARS and Alberta Children’s Hospital, and will not be commenting further on Kya’s death.

Get Stuff’d meat and seafood shop sign, located at 214 13th St. in Fort Macleod, open Thursday through Saturday from 12 noon to 6 p.m., phone 368-996-1968, follow us on Facebook at Get Stuff’d.

 

Missing five-year-old Darius Macdougall from Crowsnest Pass wearing blue hoodie, has short brown hair

Six-year-old Darius Macdougall of Lethbridge has been missing since Sept. 21. He was last seen near his family’s campsite in the backcountry west of Crowsnest Pass.

Four photos of missing six-year-old Darius Macdougall showing boy with brown hair smiling and in various casual settings

Information

If you see Darius or have an urgent lead, please call 911.

Anyone with information is urged to call Crowsnest Pass RCMP at 403-562-2866.

Those wishing to remain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), online at www.P3Tips.com, or by using the P3 Tips app available through the Apple App or Google Play stores.

Note: RCMP originally stated Darius to be five years old. Previous Shootin’ the Breeze posts have been updated to reflect a correction to his age provided by RCMP on Sept. 25. The description of the area where Darius went missing has evolved during the search as well.

 

Related Articles

No trace found as RCMP end Darius search operation

RCMP shift search tactics as Darius’ survivability drops below 5%

Clues remain elusive as search continues for Darius Macdougall

No plan to scale back search for Darius Macdougall, RCMP say

Hope remains – Searching for Darius Macdougall

Search for missing Lethbridge boy continues in Crowsnest backcountry

Missing child Darius Macdougall – Search days 1 to 3

Read More from Alberta RCMP

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

RCMP Crime Map

View approximate locations of thefts, break and enters, missing persons and high-crime areas in Alberta here.

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

Call in your tip: 1-800-222-8477 Submit tip online

Online crime reporting (under $5,000)

If you are the victim of property crime such as theft or vandalism under $5,000, online reporting is available 24/7.

Contact your local RCMP or Crime Stoppers with information about illegal activity.

Adam Kennedy SAR Alberta, Alberta | AB, Crowsnest Pass – Alberta, Darius Macdougall – Lethbridge, Lethbridge – Alberta, Missing Persons, Search and Rescue Alberta | SAR

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police crest features a buffalo head in the center, surrounded by a blue banner reading "Maintiens le droit," topped with a crown, maple leaves, and a scroll at the bottom stating "Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Crowsnest Pass RCMP rescue stranded backcountry driver

Written on . Posted in RCMP & Public Safety.

Crowsnest Pass RCMP and Southwest Alberta Regional Search and Rescue Society rescued a 50-year-old man Wednesday after he was reported missing the night before.

The man’s family reported him missing Sept. 30 after he failed to return from off-roading up Highway 40. Videos he sent earlier that afternoon showed his location and proved crucial to the rescue effort.

SARSAR deployed that evening to the areas shown in the videos. At first light, crews established intermittent communication with the man and located him based on their knowledge of the area and his description of his surroundings.

He had walked away from his stuck vehicle overnight. He was cold but uninjured and declined medical treatment.

RCMP remind backcountry users to tell friends or family their intended route and expected return time. A GPS device provides searchers critical information for faster rescues.

 

Read More from Alberta RCMP

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

RCMP Crime Map

View approximate locations of thefts, break and enters, missing persons and high-crime areas in Alberta here.

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

Call in your tip: 1-800-222-8477 Submit tip online

Online crime reporting (under $5,000)

If you are the victim of property crime such as theft or vandalism under $5,000, online reporting is available 24/7.

Contact your local RCMP or Crime Stoppers with information about illegal activity.

 

Alberta | AB, Crowsnest Pass – Alberta, Missing Persons, Southwest Alberta Regional Search and Rescue | SARSAR

Four photos of missing six-year-old Darius Macdougall showing boy with brown hair smiling and in various casual settings

No trace found as RCMP ends Darius search operation

Written on . Posted in RCMP & Public Safety.

After searching an area of about 22 square kilometres from where Darius Macdougall was last seen on Sept. 21, no trace of the six-year-old Lethbridge boy has been found.

“At this point, if Darius is still in the search site, it is our belief that he is no longer alive,” Adam Kennedy of Search and Rescue Alberta told media this afternoon.

“The challenging reality is sometimes we need some help from luck or fate, or a higher power, depending what we believe,” says RCMP Superintendent Rick Jane. “This was a tragedy.”

RCMP and Search and Rescue Alberta are demobilizing their command centre this afternoon and will no longer be on scene.

The Island Lake Campground and public land use area south of it down Tent Mountain Road, are now open. RCMP Superintendent Rick Jane encourages everyone in the area to keep their eyes open until Darius is found.

He says will continue pursuing avenues to find Darius as they arise. “We are committed to bringing answers to Darius and his family.”

“Please trust that we are still here for the family of Darius,” said RCMP public information officer Cpl. Gina Slaney. “Our victim family liaison officers, in consultation with family members, have developed a plan to ensure the family continues to receive timely updates as the investigation continues.”

The investigation remains open and active, and Slaney stressed, as she has each day, that RCMP will not stop looking for Darius.

“There’s no indication that foul play is involved, we’ve just exhausted all search tactics,” she said.

“Our investigators are still on this and we’ll investigate it thoroughly. That means taking every single possibility into account,” she added. “Just because those questions are being asked doesn’t mean we believe that happened, but we’re covering it off.”

Kennedy said more than 11,000 volunteer hours were provided by trained search-and-rescue volunteers from Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia. Their search radius extended up to 12 kilometres from where Darius was last seen. Within that perimeter, searchers covered more than 5,300 kilometres on field tasks.

Ground personnel were supported by helicopters, drones, dogs, horses, boat-mounted sonar, OHVs, swiftwater rescue and underwater search teams. It was a massive operation involving many agencies, organizations and assets.

Cadaver dogs have not engaged with the scene.

“During our life cycle, and even posthumously, we give off different scents. The appropriate dogs to the scent that we expect to see on the ground right now, from Darius, are being used,” says Kennedy. “Once the expectation that the scent is going to change and the cadaver dogs are suitable, they would potentially be engaged.

Anyone with information is urged to call Crowsnest Pass RCMP at 403-562-2866.

Those wishing to remain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), online at www.P3Tips.com, or by using the P3 Tips app available through the Apple App or Google Play stores.

Note: RCMP originally stated Darius to be five years old. Previous Shootin’ the Breeze posts have been updated to reflect a correction to his age provided by RCMP on Sept. 25. The description of the area where Darius went missing has evolved during the search as well.

 

Related Articles

Family details circumstances of Darius Macdougall disappearance

No trace found as RCMP end Darius search operation

RCMP shift search tactics as Darius’ survivability drops below 5%

Clues remain elusive as search continues for Darius Macdougall

No plan to scale back search for Darius Macdougall, RCMP say

Hope remains – Searching for Darius Macdougall

Search for missing Lethbridge boy continues in Crowsnest backcountry

Missing child Darius Macdougall – Search days 1 to 3

 

Read More from Alberta RCMP

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

RCMP Crime Map

View approximate locations of thefts, break and enters, missing persons and high-crime areas in Alberta here.

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

Call in your tip: 1-800-222-8477 Submit tip online

Online crime reporting (under $5,000)

If you are the victim of property crime such as theft or vandalism under $5,000, online reporting is available 24/7.

Contact your local RCMP or Crime Stoppers with information about illegal activity.

Adam Kennedy SAR Alberta, Alberta | AB, Crowsnest Pass – Alberta, Darius Macdougall – Lethbridge, Lethbridge – Alberta, Missing Persons, Search and Rescue Alberta | SAR

Missing five-year-old Darius Macdougall from Crowsnest Pass wearing blue hoodie, has short brown hair

RCMP, SAR Alberta demobilize search for Darius Macdougall

Written on . Posted in RCMP & Public Safety.

Oct. 1 Update

After searching an area of about 22 square kilometres from where Darius Macdougall was last seen on Sept. 21, no trace of the six-year-old Lethbridge boy has been found.

“At this point, if Darius is still in the search site, it is our belief that he is no longer alive,” Adam Kennedy of Search and Rescue Alberta told media this afternoon.

“The challenging reality is sometimes we need some help from luck or fate, or a higher power, depending what we believe,” says RCMP Superintendent Rick Jane. “This was a tragedy.”

RCMP and Search and Rescue Alberta are demobilizing their command centre this afternoon and will no longer be on scene.

The Island Lake Campground and public land use area south of it down Tent Mountain Road, are now open. RCMP Superintendent Rick Jane encourages everyone in the area to keep their eyes open until Darius is found.

He says will continue pursuing avenues to find Darius as they arise. “We are committed to bringing answers to Darius and his family.”

“Please trust that we are still here for the family of Darius,” said RCMP public information officer Cpl. Gina Slaney. “Our victim family liaison officers, in consultation with family members, have developed a plan to ensure the family continues to receive timely updates as the investigation continues.”

The investigation remains open and active and Slaney stressed, as she has each day, that RCMP will not stop looking for Darius.

“There’s no indication that foul play is involved, we’ve just exhausted all search tactics,” she said.

“Our investigators are still on this and we’ll investigate it thoroughly. That means taking every single possibility into account,” she added. “Just because those questions are being asked doesn’t mean we believe that happened, but we’re covering it off.”

Adam Kennedy of SAR Alberta said more than 11,000 volunteer hours were provided by trained search-and-rescue volunteers from Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia. Their search radius extended up to 12 kilometres from where Darius was last seen. Within that perimeter, searchers more than 5,300 kilometres on field tasks.

Ground personnel were supported by helicopters, drones, dogs, horses, boat-mounted sonar, OHVs, swiftwater rescue and underwater search teams. It was a massive operation involving many agencies, organizations and assets.

Cadaver dogs have not engaged with the scene.

“During our life cycle, and even posthumously, we give off different scents. The appropriate dogs to the scent that we expect to see on the ground right now, from Darius, are being used,” says Kennedy. “Once the expectation that the scent is going to change and the cadaver dogs are suitable, they would potentially be engaged.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call Crowsnest Pass RCMP at 403-562-2866.

Those wishing to remain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), online at www.P3Tips.com, or by using the P3 Tips app available through the Apple App or Google Play stores.

 

Four photos of missing six-year-old Darius Macdougall showing boy with brown hair smiling and in various casual settings

Sept. 29 Update:

RCMP told Darius Macdougall’s family three days ago that his chances of survival had dropped to less t

han five per cent. It was news no one wanted to hear. 

Search tactics to find the missing six-year-old changed on Sunday to reflect this new reality. Infrared technology designed to detect body heat was pulled from the operation and aerial searches reduced to daylight hours. 

The operation has involved up to 225 personnel, thermal drones, helicopters, tracking dogs and specialized software analyzing drone footage. Swift- and surface-water teams cleared all water bodies and 60 RCMP Tactical Support Group members conducted shoulder-to-shoulder searches. 

After 10 days, searchers have found nothing. No clothing, no footprints, no signs of the Lethbridge boy.

“We are not scaling back the search, rather, we are refocusing,” Cpl. Gina Slaney, public information officer for the Alberta RCMP, said Sunday.

Crews are conducting targeted searches of higher probability areas that have been covered multiple times before. Search-and-rescue dogs also continue working with tactics adjusted for the assumption Darius cannot respond.

The survivability calculation factors in what Darius was wearing, his health status, the rough mountainous terrain, weather conditions and statistical analysis from thousands of similar searches, says Adam Kennedy of Search and Rescue Alberta.

Residents who know the challenging backcountry terrain watched from the sidelines for days before an information-sharing centre set up by the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass provided an opportunity to share local knowledge.

Check the municipality’s social media and website to see if the centre remains open.

RCMP and SAR Alberta kept civilians away from the search site and Tent Mountain Road is closed to the public. Kennedy said inexperienced searchers might destroy clues and the hazardous terrain posed risks.

Darius was camped with his family in the Livingstone Public Land Use Zone, south of Highway 3 between Crowsnest Pass and Sparwood.

The family called authorities to report Darius missing when he did not return to the campsite after a walk with other youths. Crowsnest Pass RCMP responded and the massive search effort began.

 

Sept. 28 Article

“Just because we’re saying survivability is limited right now does not mean we’re stopping looking for Darius”

Gina Slaney, public information officer for the Alberta RCMP

 

RCMP and Search and Rescue Alberta are changing tactics today in their search for six-year-old Darius Macdougall of Lethbridge.

Darius went missing last Sunday, Sept. 21, after becoming separated from a group of young family members in the southwestern Alberta backcountry.

“We are not scaling back the search, rather, we are refocusing,” says Cpl. Gina Slaney, public information officer for the Alberta RCMP.

“Some things will change but this does not mean that we’re scaling back. We are still out there in full force searching.”

Survivability

RCMP, Search and Rescue Alberta and victim family liaison officers met with Darius’ family this morning to discuss survivability concerns. Slaney says these concerns stem from the terrain, exposure to the elements and the time that has passed.

“The survivability is less than five per cent,” Slaney says. “So, unfortunately, that conversation was had with the family today and they understand how we come to that number.”

While some tactics are changing, she stresses that the search continues and will until Darius is located. Searchers haven’t found any signs of Darius as efforts continue for an eighth day.

“Any time decisions like this have to be made and that consideration is taken, there’s multiple different factors that go into it — everything from what Darius was wearing to Darius’ health status when he went missing, the terrain we’re dealing with, the weather  on scene over the last seven days as well as a major statistical analysis” says Adam Kennedy, of Search and Rescue Alberta.

“There is a major data set of multiple different searches, thousands of searches. So it can be looked at to find data sets that match Darius’ profile, compare that to the conditions on the ground to help make that determination.”

Day 8 search maintains determination

About 200 personnel are working on the ground today, including approximately 100 SAR volunteers from Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia. Searchers are working in rough, mountainous terrain that includes deadfall, elevation changes, uneven ground and a number of streams and creeks.

Kennedy says searchers remain determined and mental health supports are in place for them. “They’re going out giving it their 100 per cent today.”

Tactics are different, though, dictated by the statistical decrease in survivability.

“Given this unfortunate stage of the search, some tactics will be changed and ground search methods will be adjusted to reflect this,” he says.

Tactical changes implemented

Air assets using infrared technology, which can detect body heat, will no longer deploy. Kennedy says the decision reflects the assumption that heat signatures will not be picked up on the ground.

“That’s the biggest change right now, changing from using the infrared to solar cameras to search the ground,” he adds.

This is significant, as it means aerial searching is now limited to daylight hours.

Kennedy says some tactics and patterns used on the ground will be used in more detail, given the assumption that Darius is non-responsive and unable to call out to searchers.

Underwater and surface-water assets are on the scene today, re-examining areas where searchers found no sign of Darius earlier in the week.

Search-and-rescue dogs continue their work, now using different tactics. Kennedy says the dogs on scene are very effective at locating live subjects. Cadaver dogs have not been brought in at this time.

Public Information Sharing Centre in Crowsnest Pass

The Municipality of Crowsnest Pass is running its Public Information Sharing Centre again today at the Crowsnest Sports Complex. The curling rink lounge (upstairs) will be open from 3 to 5 p.m. for information gathering.

Maps of the search area are available for viewing. Anyone knowing of hiding spots or safe places Darius could potentially be is encouraged to drop in.

Municipal staff share leads with RCMP, providing a means for the public to support the search operation without going to the scene.

The Sports Complex is located at 8702 – 22 Ave., Coleman.

Background

Darius was camped with his family in the Livingstone Public Land Use Zone, down Tent Mountain Road. This is three kilometres south of the Island Lake Campground and Provincial Recreation Area on Highway 3, between Crowsnest Pass and Sparwood, B.C.

The family called authorities late Sunday morning to report Darius missing when he did not return to the campsite after a walk. Crowsnest Pass RCMP responded and a massive search effort has run night and day since then.

Searchers have been sensitive to Darius’ neurodivergency. They kept noise and light levels low, and played his favourite song in consideration of him having autism.

Sounds can serve as an attractant during a search. In this situation, searchers knew the opposite effect was possible and took care not to drive him further away.

“We will continue until we find him”

Cpl. Slaney says while nothing suggests foul play, RCMP continue investigating all avenues.

“Just because we’re saying survivability is limited right now does not mean we’re stopping looking for Darius,” she says. “We will still continue, we will continue until we find him.”

If you see Darius or have an urgent lead, please call 911.

 

Missing five-year-old Darius Macdougall from Crowsnest Pass wearing blue hoodie, has short brown hair

Six-year-old Darius Macdougall of Lethbridge has been missing since Sept. 21. He was last seen near his family’s campsite in the backcountry west of Crowsnest Pass.

 

Note: RCMP originally stated Darius to be five years old. Previous Shootin’ the Breeze posts have been updated to reflect a correction to his age provided by RCMP on Sept. 25. The description of the area where Darius went missing has evolved during the search as well.

Related Articles:

Clues remain elusive as search continues for Darius Macdougall

No plan to scale back search for Darius Macdougall, RCMP say

Hope remains — Searching for Darius Macdougall

Search continues in Crowsnest backcountry for missingLethbridge boy

Day 3 search continues for missing child Darius Macdougall

Public Information Centre – Community Tips in Search for Darius McDougall

Adam Kennedy SAR Alberta, Alberta | AB, British Columbia, Crowsnest Pass – Alberta, Darius Macdougall – Lethbridge, Island Lake Provincial Recreation Area – Alberta, Lethbridge – Alberta, Search and Rescue, Search and Rescue Alberta | SAR, Southwest Alberta Regional Search and Rescue | SARSAR, Sparwood – BC

Missing five-year-old Darius Macdougall from Crowsnest Pass wearing blue hoodie, has short brown hair

RCMP shift search tactics as Darius’ survivability drops below 5%

Written on . Posted in RCMP & Public Safety.

“Just because we’re saying survivability is limited right now does not mean we’re stopping looking for Darius”

Gina Slaney, public information officer for the Alberta RCMP

 

RCMP and Search and Rescue Alberta are changing tactics today in their search for six-year-old Darius Macdougall of Lethbridge.

Darius went missing last Sunday, Sept. 21, after becoming separated from a group of young family members in the southwestern Alberta backcountry.

“We are not scaling back the search, rather, we are refocusing,” says Cpl. Gina Slaney, public information officer for the Alberta RCMP.

“Some things will change but this does not mean that we’re scaling back. We are still out there in full force searching.”

Survivability

RCMP, Search and Rescue Alberta and victim family liaison officers met with Darius’s family this morning to discuss survivability concerns. Slaney says these concerns stem from the terrain, exposure to the elements and the time that has passed.

“The survivability is less than five per cent,” Slaney says. “So, unfortunately, that conversation was had with the family today and they understand how we come to that number.”

While some tactics are changing, she stresses that the search continues and will until Darius is located. Searchers haven’t found any signs of Darius as efforts continue for an eighth day.

“Any time decisions like this have to be made and that consideration is taken, there’s multiple different factors that go into it — everything from what Darius was wearing to Darius’s health status when he went missing, the terrain we’re dealing with, the weather on scene over the last seven days as well as a major statistical analysis,” says Adam Kennedy of Search and Rescue Alberta.

“There is a major data set of multiple different searches, thousands of searches. So it can be looked at to find data sets that match Darius’s profile, compare that to the conditions on the ground to help make that determination.”

Day 8 search maintains determination

About 200 personnel are working on the ground today, including approximately 100 SAR volunteers from Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia. Searchers are working in rough, mountainous terrain that includes deadfall, elevation changes, uneven ground and a number of streams and creeks.

Kennedy says searchers remain determined and mental health supports are in place for them.

“They’re going out giving it their 100 per cent today.”

Tactics are different, though, dictated by the statistical decrease in survivability.

“Given this unfortunate stage of the search, some tactics will be changed and ground search methods will be adjusted to reflect this,” he says.

Tactical changes implemented

Air assets using infrared technology, which can detect body heat, will no longer deploy. Kennedy says the decision reflects the assumption that heat signatures will not be picked up on the ground.

“That’s the biggest change right now, changing from using the infrared to solar cameras to search the ground,” he adds.

This is significant, as it means aerial searching is now limited to daylight hours.

Kennedy says some tactics and patterns used on the ground will be used in more detail, given the assumption that Darius is non-responsive and unable to call out to searchers.

Underwater and surface-water assets are on the scene today, re-examining areas where searchers found no sign of Darius earlier in the week.

Search-and-rescue dogs continue their work, now using different tactics. Kennedy says the dogs on scene are very effective at locating live subjects. Cadaver dogs have not been brought in at this time.

Public Information Sharing Centre in Crowsnest Pass

The Municipality of Crowsnest Pass is running its Public Information Sharing Centre again today at the Crowsnest Sports Complex. The curling rink lounge (upstairs) will be open from 3 to 5 p.m. for information gathering.

Maps of the search area are available for viewing. Anyone knowing of hiding spots or safe places Darius could potentially be is encouraged to drop in.

Municipal staff share leads with RCMP, providing a means for the public to support the search operation without going to the scene.

The Sports Complex is located at 8702 – 22 Ave., Coleman.

Background

Darius was camped with his family in the Livingstone Public Land Use Zone, down Tent Mountain Road. This is three kilometres south of the Island Lake Campground and Provincial Recreation Area on Highway 3, between Crowsnest Pass and Sparwood, B.C.

The family called authorities late Sunday morning to report Darius missing when he did not return to the campsite after a walk. Crowsnest Pass RCMP responded and a massive search effort has run night and day since then.

Searchers have been sensitive to Darius’s neurodivergency. They kept noise and light levels low, and played his favourite song in consideration of him having autism.

Sounds can serve as an attractant during a search. In this situation, searchers knew the opposite effect was possible and took care not to drive him further away.

“We will continue until we find him”

Cpl. Slaney says while nothing suggests foul play, RCMP continue investigating all avenues.

“Just because we’re saying survivability is limited right now does not mean we’re stopping looking for Darius,” she says. “We will still continue, we will continue until we find him.”

If you see Darius or have an urgent lead, please call 911.

Note: RCMP originally stated Darius to be five years old. Previous Shootin’ the Breeze posts have been updated to reflect a correction to his age provided by RCMP on Sept. 25. The description of the area where Darius went missing has evolved during the search as well.

Related Articles

Family details circumstances of Darius Macdougall disappearance

No trace found as RCMP end Darius search operation

RCMP shift search tactics as Darius’ survivability drops below 5%

Clues remain elusive as search continues for Darius Macdougall

No plan to scale back search for Darius Macdougall, RCMP say

Hope remains – Searching for Darius Macdougall

Search for missing Lethbridge boy continues in Crowsnest backcountry

Missing child Darius Macdougall – Search days 1 to 3

 

 

Read More from Alberta RCMP

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

RCMP Crime Map

View approximate locations of thefts, break and enters, missing persons and high-crime areas in Alberta here.

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

Call in your tip: 1-800-222-8477 Submit tip online

Online crime reporting (under $5,000)

If you are the victim of property crime such as theft or vandalism under $5,000, online reporting is available 24/7.

Contact your local RCMP or Crime Stoppers with information about illegal activity.

Adam Kennedy SAR Alberta, Alberta | AB, Coleman | Crowsnest Pass – Alberta, Crowsnest Pass – Alberta, Darius Macdougall – Lethbridge, Island Lake Provincial Recreation Area – Alberta, Lethbridge – Alberta, Missing Persons, Search and Rescue Alberta | SAR, Sparwood – BC

Topographic map showing general search area for Darius Macdougall

Clues remain elusive as search continues for Darius Macdougall

Written on . Posted in RCMP & Public Safety.

It’s Day 7 of the search for Darius Macdougall and RCMP stress there is no intention of scaling back efforts to find the six-year-old Lethbridge boy.

Darius’ family notified Crowsnest Pass RCMP of his disappearance last Sunday, Sept. 21.

RCMP say the family looked for Darius for about an hour before calling authorities late Sunday morning. They were camped in the Livingstone Public Land Use Zone, down Tent Mountain Road. This is south of the Island Lake Campground and Provincial Recreation Area between Crowsnest Pass and Sparwood, B.C.

He separated from a group of six young family members while out on a walk. The youths were within a kilometre of their campsite, on the south side of Highway 3. No adults accompanied them and RCMP have not released the age range of the children.

Missing child description

Darius stands about four feet tall and has short brown hair. He is dressed in a blue-and-grey hoodie and sweats. Darius has autism and, while verbal, there is concern he may not respond to strangers or in typical fashion. Searchers play a song he likes and avoid loud noises and bright lights where possible.

If you see Darius or have an urgent lead, please call 911.

 

Missing five-year-old Darius Macdougall from Crowsnest Pass wearing blue hoodie, has short brown hair

Six-year-old Darius Macdougall of Lethbridge has been missing since Sept. 21. He was last seen near his family’s campsite in the backcountry west of Crowsnest Pass.

“Please leave search efforts to the highly trained professionals on scene”

Adam Kennedy, Search and Rescue Alberta

 

Search activity intensifies

Sixty members of the Alberta RCMP Tactical Support Group are working on the ground today. They joined the search on Friday and are conducting a shoulder-to-shoulder search of the area Darius was last thought to be.

“These officers are trained to search for even the smallest piece of evidence,” says Cpl. Gina Slaney, public information officer for the Alberta RCMP. “So that’s a huge, huge asset for us right now.”

Alberta Sheriffs are also on the scene, patrolling the main intersection at Highway 3 and assisting at the staging area.

With action on the ground and in the air, Cpl. Slaney stresses that recreational drones are prohibited in the search area. Nav Canada has also issued a NOTAM (notice to air missions) to keep the airspace clear.

“It is essential that this is followed as we have our own planes, helicopters and drones in the air,” Slaney says. “If we have other things flying in the air that aren’t supposed to be there, that could actually inhibit our search efforts.”

Adam Kennedy, provincial training manager for Search and Rescue Alberta, remains optimistic for a positive outcome based on statistical analysis. While he admits the probability of favourable outcome decreases with time, Kennedy says the current search effort reflects the assumption that Darius is still alive.

Kennedy noted in Friday’s update that people can go quite some time without food and that Darius has a ready supply of water.

Drones with infrared cameras and a helicopter are providing eyes in the sky while about 225 personnel have boots on the ground today.

Search and Rescue members – 128 total from Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan – conduct ground searches along with conservation officers, fish and wildlife officers, sheriffs, RCMP air services and tactical support, and other agencies. RCMP and SAR Alberta tracking dogs remain in the field, and analysis of drone footage continues.

While Kennedy and Slaney share appreciation for public offers of assistance, they stress the importance only professionals being in the search area.

“We do ask the public to please leave search efforts to the highly trained professionals on scene,” Kennedy says. “Our SAR volunteers receive expert instruction in search-and-rescue techniques and protocols, followed by in-the-field mentorship from mock scenarios and real-world responses.

Tent Mountain Road remains closed to the public.

Nearby incidents

In what Cpl. Slaney describes a completely unrelated incident, Crowsnest Pass RCMP responded to a report of an injured hiker very close to the search site.

Emergency services long-lined the hiker out Saturday morning due to his serious injuries.

“Although this is not related to the search for Darius, it is a good reminder as to why we do not want civilians to come to the site to assist in this search,” she says. “The terrain is very, very dangerous and if you were to get hurt, it pulls resources away.”

In this particular incident, no resources were removed from the search for Darius. Crowsnest Pass RCMP, Southwest Alberta Regional Search and Rescue, Crowsnest Pass Fire Rescue, STARS and RCMP resources attended the scene.

“It takes a lot for these types of rescues and, thankfully, it was successful,” Slaney says. “But again, we just want everybody to be careful.”

RCMP also reported a young woman missing from Chain Lakes Provincial Park on Friday. They have since confirmed that Kaitlynn Hunter is safe.

Search and Rescue Alberta had four search assists this week.

Public Information Sharing Centre in Crowsnest Pass

Locals with knowledge of the Tent Mountain Road backcountry area now have an avenue to share information with RCMP.

The Municipality of Crowsnest Pass is running its Public Information Sharing Centre again today at the Crowsnest Sports Complex. The curling rink lounge (upstairs) will be open from 3 to 5 p.m. for information gathering.

Maps of the search area are available for viewing. Anyone knowing of hiding spots or safe places Darius could potentially be is encouraged to drop in.

Municipal staff will share leads with RCMP, providing a means for the public to support the search operation without going to the scene.

The Sports Complex is located at 8702 – 22 Ave., Coleman.

Community support efforts

While RCMP and SAR Alberta do not want civilians near the search site, there are other ways to support Darius and his family.

One is by being kind, particularly on social media where speculation can become ugly.

Another is by only sharing information from trusted sources.

Victim family liaison officers support Darius’ family as they remain camped on-site.

“They’re fantastic. They are 100 per cent dedicated to the family,” says Cpl. Slaney. “We’re doing absolutely everything we can to assist the family in this horrible, horrible time for them.”

RCMP and SAR Alberta will provide their next update on Sunday at 2:30 p.m.

 

Note: RCMP originally stated Darius to be five years old. Shootin’ the Breeze posts have been updated to reflect a correction to his age provided by RCMP on Sept. 25. The description of the area where Darius went missing has evolved during the search as well.

 

Related Articles

Family details circumstances of Darius Macdougall disappearance

No trace found as RCMP end Darius search operation

RCMP shift search tactics as Darius’ survivability drops below 5%

Clues remain elusive as search continues for Darius Macdougall

No plan to scale back search for Darius Macdougall, RCMP say

Hope remains – Searching for Darius Macdougall

Search for missing Lethbridge boy continues in Crowsnest backcountry

Missing child Darius Macdougall – Search days 1 to 3

 

Read More from Alberta RCMP

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

RCMP Crime Map

View approximate locations of thefts, break and enters, missing persons and high-crime areas in Alberta here.

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

Call in your tip: 1-800-222-8477 Submit tip online

Online crime reporting (under $5,000)

If you are the victim of property crime such as theft or vandalism under $5,000, online reporting is available 24/7.

Contact your local RCMP or Crime Stoppers with information about illegal activity.

Adam Kennedy SAR Alberta, Alberta | AB, British Columbia, Crowsnest Pass – Alberta, Crowsnest Pass Fire Rescue | CNPFR, Darius Macdougall – Lethbridge, Island Lake Provincial Recreation Area – Alberta, Lethbridge – Alberta, Search and Rescue, Search and Rescue Alberta | SAR, Southwest Alberta Regional Search and Rescue | SARSAR, Sparwood – BC

Search and rescue teams gather at Island Lake command center during evening hours of Darius Macdougall search operation

No plan to scale back search for Darius Macdougall, RCMP say

Written on . Posted in RCMP & Public Safety.

For a fifth day, searchers are looking for Darius Macdougall near the Island Lake Provincial Recreation Area west of Crowsnest Pass. His family was camped south of Highway 3.

RCMP say the Lethbridge boy is six years old, not five as provided in their previous media briefings and releases.

Adam Kennedy, provincial training manager for Alberta Search and Rescue, confirms searchers haven’t found any signs of Darius. Their efforts cover ground area and water bodies, along with aerial support.

“As of right now we are still working on the assumption that Darius is still alive and the search tempo reflects that,” Kennedy says. He adds that morale remains high and he hasn’t seen any discouragement among the searchers.

Commitment to search

“I can tell you 100 per cent that [scaling back the search] has not been discussed,” says Cpl. Gina Slaney, public information officer for the Alberta RCMP. “There is no current plan to scale back; we are gonna do everything we can to find Darius.”

Alberta SAR is using a new a technological tool. The software analyzes drone footage, looking for anomalies that could be missed by the human eye. Teams are implementing it on both present and past video in hopes of a lead to locating Darius.

 

“There is no current plan to scale back; we are gonna do everything we can to find Darius.”

Cpl. Gina Slaney, Alberta RCMP

Missing five-year-old Darius Macdougall from Crowsnest Pass wearing blue hoodie, has short brown hair

Six-year-old Darius Macdougall of Lethbridge has been missing since Sept. 21. He was last seen near his family’s campsite in the backcountry west of Crowsnest Pass.

 

Search adaptations for autism

Searchers consider Darius being autistic. They avoid making loud noises and play a particular song he likes. Searchers also don’t use bright lights during the overnight searches to avoid startling or scaring him.

About 120 searchers are on the ground today, supported by RCMP air services and drones. Kennedy says the effort continues at a very high tempo as they push further out from the area where Darius was last seen.

Ground searchers are working within a four-kilometre radius of that point, with some trail searches extending to eight kilometres.

Expanding resources considered

As the perimeter expands, Kennedy says a request to bring in Alberta SAR equine resources is under consideration. The operations team continuously evaluates available options, including the potential use of military forces.

Kennedy says whether or not military assistance is requested will depend on whether the resources they can provide, whether for ground or air searches, will benefit the overall operation.

Cpl. Slaney advises RCMP are investigating all tips as well.

Community support efforts

Crowsnest Pass and area residents wishing to assist may soon have an opportunity.

Slaney says RCMP are working with the municipality on details to facilitate community support.

She notes the response is natural when tragedy happens in a small town.

“We’re trying to set up something where people can drop off non-perishable food items — water, Gatorade, granola bars — for the family and the people on the ground,” she says.

Both RCMP and Alberta SAR say untrained volunteers will not be added to the search effort.

Background on disappearance

Multiple agencies began searching for Darius on Sept. 21, after he didn’t return to his family’s campsite. He was out with six other youth family members and became separated during their walk.

Crowsnest Pass RCMP received notice at 11:33 a.m. and responded to the scene. Ground and air services have been in action around the clock since then.

RCMP provide daily updates, which will continue until Darius is found.

 

Note: RCMP originally stated Darius to be five years old. Shootin’ the Breeze posts have been updated to reflect a correction to his age provided by RCMP on Sept. 25. The description of the area where Darius went missing has evolved during the search as well.

 

Related Articles

Family details circumstances of Darius Macdougall disappearance

No trace found as RCMP end Darius search operation

RCMP shift search tactics as Darius’ survivability drops below 5%

Clues remain elusive as search continues for Darius Macdougall

No plan to scale back search for Darius Macdougall, RCMP say

Hope remains – Searching for Darius Macdougall

Search for missing Lethbridge boy continues in Crowsnest backcountry

Missing child Darius Macdougall – Search days 1 to 3

 

 

Read More from Alberta RCMP

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

RCMP Crime Map

View approximate locations of thefts, break and enters, missing persons and high-crime areas in Alberta here.

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

Call in your tip: 1-800-222-8477 Submit tip online

Online crime reporting (under $5,000)

If you are the victim of property crime such as theft or vandalism under $5,000, online reporting is available 24/7.

Contact your local RCMP or Crime Stoppers with information about illegal activity.

Adam Kennedy SAR Alberta, Alberta | AB, Crowsnest Pass – Alberta, Darius Macdougall – Lethbridge, Island Lake Provincial Recreation Area – Alberta, Lethbridge – Alberta, Search and Rescue Alberta | SAR, Southwest Alberta Regional Search and Rescue | SARSAR

A group of people, some in safety vests, stand on a forested mountain road near emergency vehicles and ATVs. Traffic cones mark the area, and sunlight hits the mountains in the background.

Hope remains — Searching for Darius Macdougall

Written on . Posted in RCMP & Public Safety.

“We are working on the assumption that Darius is still very much alive.”

Adam Kennedy, Alberta Search and Rescue

Missing five-year-old Darius Macdougall from Crowsnest Pass wearing blue hoodie, has short brown hair

Six-year-old Darius Macdougall of Lethbridge has been missing since Sept. 21. He was last seen near his family’s campsite in the backcountry west of Crowsnest Pass.

Multiple agencies continue 24-hour search efforts in the backcountry south of the Island Lake Campground. They focus their sights on finding five-year-old Darius Macdougall of Lethbridge. This marks Day 4 of a massive operation west of Crowsnest Pass.

Darius separated from six young family members while walking near the campground on Sunday morning. The family called Crowsnest Pass RCMP at 11:33 a.m., after they failed to locate him.

Cpl. Gina Slaney, public information officer for the Alberta RCMP, says no adults were with the group. She revealed this in a virtual media briefing today. Detailed interviews continue and she hopes RCMP will soon have a better understanding of Sunday morning’s events.

She also notes that, while Darius has autism, he communicates verbally. He may not respond to unfamiliar people or in expected ways, which poses complications for searchers.

“It’s definitely a concern that we’re worried about,” she says.

Search area expanded

Adam Kennedy, provincial training manager for Alberta Search and Rescue, says the youths were within one kilometre of their campsite when Darius was last seen.

Searchers have covered a three-kilometre radius around the site without success. They have also searched all water bodies in the area.

Swift-water and underwater teams are in the water again today. They have been engaged three times with negative results.

“They were very, very confident in their detection ability,” Kennedy says. “It was quite clear water that they were operating in and they were certain that Darius was not there.”

Forensic identification services examined a substance found by a searcher. FIS confirmed it was neither human nor animal blood.

Search teams are now extending the target area out to a radius of 6.6 kilometres.

“We are working on the assumption that Darius is very much alive,” Kennedy says. “Everyone is working to a tempo to reflect that. We very much still believe him to be alive and are not letting up the search efforts as a result of that.”

Search resources and conditions

Kennedy bases this on consultation with two leading wilderness survivability physicians and he says there is no consideration of scaling back search efforts.

Despite one overnight low of four degrees C, weather conditions have been favourable for Darius and those looking for him.

Kennedy says about 100 people are currently involved in the operation. This includes RCMP, Alberta and British Columbia Search and Rescue teams, Civil Air Search and Rescue, Alberta conservation officers and wildlife sheriffs, rescue dogs from the Canadian Search Dog Association, Canada Task Force 2 and the Salvation Army providing support.

RCMP resources include thermal imaging drones, one helicopter, forensic identification services, police dog services, the general investigation section and a plane (en route).

Alberta Search and Rescue’s emergency co-ordination centre in Leduc is in contact with a number of resources, including the Canadian Forces, that may be able to provide assets or assistance. Alberta SAR has equine search-and-rescue capabilities but Kennedy says horseback has not been deemed a useful asset at this time.

Community involvement

Some area residents have voiced concerns on social media. They want more opportunity for community members to assist. Those with personal knowledge of the challenging terrain especially want to help.

Kennedy reiterates that safety for searchers and the public remains a priority. Inexperienced searchers might also inadvertently destroy clues that those not trained in search and rescue wouldn’t recognize.

“Of course, the ultimate goal is to find Darius,” he says. “Our other goal, as we go, is to find clues that might indicate the direction Darius went.”

Cpl. Slaney says the community concern and offers to help are appreciated. The operations centre is looking at setting up a point for donations of water, Gatorade and other non-perishables that will be appreciated by searchers.

“We’re just trying to work out the logistics of how we could get the community to help them,” she says.

Family support

Darius’ family is receiving direct support from RCMP victim family liaison officers. Slaney says this specially trained unit focuses on providing a trauma-based, victim-centred approach and ensures a single point of contact between the family and RCMP.

The officers work “to reduce re-traumatization by ensuring they have a voice and are included in this process,” she adds.

RCMP will provide daily updates until they find Darius.

 

Note: RCMP originally stated Darius to be five years old. Shootin’ the Breeze posts have been updated to reflect a correction to his age provided by RCMP on Sept. 25. The description of the area where Darius went missing has evolved during the search as well.

 

Related Articles

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No trace found as RCMP end Darius search operation

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Read More from Alberta RCMP

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

RCMP Crime Map

View approximate locations of thefts, break and enters, missing persons and high-crime areas in Alberta here.

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

Call in your tip: 1-800-222-8477 Submit tip online

Online crime reporting (under $5,000)

If you are the victim of property crime such as theft or vandalism under $5,000, online reporting is available 24/7.

Contact your local RCMP or Crime Stoppers with information about illegal activity.

Adam Kennedy SAR Alberta, Alberta | AB, Crowsnest Pass – Alberta, Darius Macdougall – Lethbridge, Island Lake Provincial Recreation Area – Alberta, Lethbridge – Alberta, Search and Rescue Alberta | SAR, Southwest Alberta Regional Search and Rescue | SARSAR

Missing five-year-old Darius Macdougall from Lethbridge with brown hair and eyes

Search for missing boy continues in Crowsnest backcountry

Written on . Posted in RCMP & Public Safety.

A family camping trip took a terrible turn on Sunday when a child failed to return to the family’s campsite in a backcountry area south of the  Island Lake Campground.

RCMP say six-year-old Darius Macdougall of Lethbridge was walking with six family members and became separated from the group.

The family called Crowsnest Pass RCMP at 11:33 a.m., after failing to locate the boy.

Darius has autism, which complicates the search as he may not respond to unfamiliar people or in expected ways.

Darius stands about four feet tall and has brown hair and eyes. He is wearing sweatpants and a blue and grey hoodie.

“We are still in the stage right now where we are very, very hopeful. There’s no talk on the ground of anything other than a positive outcome.”

Adam Kennedy, Alberta Search and Rescue

Missing five-year-old Darius Macdougall from Crowsnest Pass wearing blue hoodie, has short brown hair

Six-year-old Darius Macdougall of Lethbridge has been missing since Sept. 21. He was last seen near his family’s campsite in the backcountry west of Crowsnest Pass.

Teams are scouring the area day and night.

“Please know that every appropriate resource is being utilized to its fullest extent possible,” Sgt. Mark Amatto, detachment commander of Crowsnest Pass RCMP, said Monday.

Multiple agencies including RCMP, Southwest Alberta Regional Search and Rescue teams, Civil Air Search and Rescue and conservation officers are searching around the clock for the child. Thermal imaging drones, police dogs and helicopters are supporting ground searchers.

The rugged terrain, which ranges from flat ground to steeply angled cliffs to water bodies, is being thoroughly and methodically searched.

RCMP held a virtual press conference Tuesday to provide an update on the search operation.

“We are still in the stage right now where we are very, very hopeful,” said Adam Kennedy, provincial training officer with Alberta Search and Rescue.

“There’s no talk on the ground of anything other than a positive outcome.”

Drones, helicopters, searchers on OHVs and rescue dogs carried the sweep through Monday night, Darius’s second on his own.

Kennedy said RCMP also patrolled the road with their emergency lights on, “to try to set up a bit of an attractant for young Darius to pull him out of the woods, toward the road.”

The day started with 82 ground search-and-rescue personnel out at first light. A second helicopter is in the sky and teams with underwater and swift-water search capacity are on-site.

About 25 per cent of the distance a child with Darius’s profile might travel has been searched to a very, very high degree, Kennedy said. The perimeter is expanding out to the 90 per cent distance as he could now have wandered further.

Cpl. Gina Slaney, public information officer for the Alberta RCMP, confirmed that family members have been interviewed.

“We have child forensic interviewers that know how to appropriately interview children, all of those things are being done,” she said. “And you never know, that smallest tidbit of information from one of those family members might be able to assist us…. Nothing is too small.”

The investigation remains broad, but Slaney confirmed there is no indication of foul play at this time.

Slaney said the family are working on tasks at the scene and are being supported by victim services and other agencies.

The Salvation Army is providing food for search-and-rescue responders and a nearby Bible camp is providing a safe place for people to rest between shifts.

Offers to assist are pouring in, but officials ask that untrained personnel give the professional searchers space to do their work. The Tent Mountain Road is currently closed to the public.

Kennedy said trained searchers have a much higher probability of detection per person and that safety concerns exist due to the hazardous terrain.

“We don’t always know the capabilities of incoming volunteers and then there’s the potential that if they become injured, then we have to reroute some of our resources on the ground to support that incident as opposed to continuing the search,” he added.

Cpl. Slaney will look into ways community members can support the effort.

Shootin’ the Breeze will continue to post updates as information is received. It is hoped the next update includes news that Darius has been found safe.

 

Note: RCMP originally stated Darius to be five years old. Shootin’ the Breeze posts have been updated to reflect a correction to his age provided by RCMP on Sept. 25. The description of the area where Darius went missing has evolved during the search as well.

 

Related Articles

Family details circumstances of Darius Macdougall disappearance

No trace found as RCMP end Darius search operation

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No plan to scale back search for Darius Macdougall, RCMP say

Hope remains – Searching for Darius Macdougall

Search for missing Lethbridge boy continues in Crowsnest backcountry

Missing child Darius Macdougall – Search days 1 to 3

 

 

Read More from Alberta RCMP

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

RCMP Crime Map

View approximate locations of thefts, break and enters, missing persons and high-crime areas in Alberta here.

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

Call in your tip: 1-800-222-8477 Submit tip online

Online crime reporting (under $5,000)

If you are the victim of property crime such as theft or vandalism under $5,000, online reporting is available 24/7.

Contact your local RCMP or Crime Stoppers with information about illegal activity.

Adam Kennedy SAR Alberta, Alberta | AB, Crowsnest Pass – Alberta, Darius Macdougall – Lethbridge, Island Lake Provincial Recreation Area – Alberta, Lethbridge – Alberta, Search and Rescue Alberta | SAR, Southwest Alberta Regional Search and Rescue | SARSAR

Missing five-year-old Darius Macdougall from Crowsnest Pass wearing blue hoodie, has short brown hair

Day 3 search continues for missing child Darius Macdougall

Written on . Posted in RCMP & Public Safety.

Darius Macdougall remains missing despite search efforts that began Sunday. The six-year-old became separated from family members near their campsite and was reported missing late that morning. The family was camped down Tent Mountain Road, south of the Island Lake Campground.

Darius has autism and may not respond to unfamiliar voices calling his name. This is an additional challenge for teams scouring the rugged backcountry area to find him.

He has short brown hair, stands about four feet tall and was dressed in sweats and a blue and grey hoodie.

“Please know that every appropriate resource is being utilized to its fullest extent possible,” Sgt. Mark Amatto, detachment commander of Crowsnest Pass RCMP said Monday.

Multiple agencies including RCMP, Southwest Alberta Regional Search and Rescue teams, and conservation officers are searching around the clock for the child. Thermal imaging drones, police dogs and helicopters are supporting ground searchers.

“The search continued overnight and, unfortunately, Darius was not located,” Crowsnest Pass RCMP reported Tuesday morning. “Numerous resources are actively searching today.”

While offers to assist are appreciated, officials ask that non-search-and-rescue trained personnel give search teams space to conduct their operation. Community volunteers could interfere with the organized search and potentially contaminate the search area.

The Island Lake Provincial Recreation Area is about 14 kilometres west of Crowsnest Pass.

If you see Darius, please immediately contact Crowsnest Pass RCMP at 403-562-2866.

Those wishing to remain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), online at www.P3Tips.com, or by using the P3 Tips app.

Updates are posted as they become available.

 

 

Search continues for Darius Macdougall after overnight effort

Update – Sept. 22, 2025

The search for six-year-old Darius Macdougall continues as ground searchers, helicopters and drones scour the backcountry south of Island Lake Campground where the boy was last seen.

“We request that non-search-and-rescue trained personnel give us space to conduct our search,” says Sgt. Mark Amatto, detachment commander of Crowsnest Pass RCMP.

“Please know that every appropriate resource is being utilized to its fullest extent possible.”

Crowsnest Pass RCMP received the missing report at 11:33 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 21. Darius was out with family members and became separated from the group.

Darius has autism, which may prevent him from responding to others. He stands four feet tall with short brown hair and was last seen wearing a blue and grey hoodie and sweats.

The search involves multiple agencies and specialized equipment. RCMP and conservation officers are on scene, joined by Southwest Alberta Region Search and Rescue teams from both Alberta and British Columbia.

Resources deployed include more than 60 ground searchers, RCMP drones with thermal imaging, police dog services and Ascent helicopters from Fernie.

Amatto and Search and Rescue representative Peter Alfred provided an update Monday afternoon. They confirmed the search will continue overnight and noted the favourable weather.

Officials appreciate community offers to volunteer but say this would interfere with the organized search. There are processes in place and additional volunteers may contaminate the search area.

Anyone with contact with Darius should immediately contact Crowsnest Pass RCMP at 403-562-2866.

Those wishing to remain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), online at www.P3Tips.com, or by using the P3 Tips app.

Police promise to provide updates as they become available.

The Island Lake Provincial Recreation Area is about 14 kilometres west of Crowsnest Pass.

 

 

Child missing near Island Lake Campground

Sept. 21, 2025

Crowsnest Pass RCMP are actively searching for missing six-year-old Darius Macdougall. He was last seen Sunday, Sept. 21 walking with family members near Island Lake Campground.

Police received the report at 11:33 a.m. on Sunday. Darius has a medical issue that may prevent him from responding to others.

RCMP and conservation officers are on scene, joined by searchers from multiple agencies including Search and Rescue teams in Alberta and British Columbia. The searchers are being supported by drones, dogs and helicopters.

Darius is described as four feet tall with short brown hair. He was last seen wearing a blue/grey hoodie and sweats.

The Island Lake Provincial Recreation Area is about 14 kilometres west of Crowsnest Pass and 20 kilometres east of Sparwood, B.C.

If you have any contact with Darius, please contact Crowsnest Pass RCMP at 403-562-2866.

Those wishing to remain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), online at www.P3Tips.com, or by using the P3 Tips app available through the Apple App or Google Play stores. To contact RCMP’s non-emergency line within any Alberta jurisdiction, call 310-RCMP (7267).

 

Note: RCMP originally stated Darius to be five years old. Shootin’ the Breeze posts have been updated to reflect a correction to his age provided by RCMP on Sept. 25. The description of the area where Darius went missing has evolved during the search as well.

 

 

Related Articles

Family details circumstances of Darius Macdougall disappearance

No trace found as RCMP end Darius search operation

RCMP shift search tactics as Darius’ survivability drops below 5%

Clues remain elusive as search continues for Darius Macdougall

No plan to scale back search for Darius Macdougall, RCMP say

Hope remains – Searching for Darius Macdougall

Search for missing Lethbridge boy continues in Crowsnest backcountry

Missing child Darius Macdougall – Search days 1 to 3

 

 

Read More from Alberta RCMP

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

RCMP Crime Map

View approximate locations of thefts, break and enters, missing persons and high-crime areas in Alberta here.

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

Call in your tip: 1-800-222-8477 Submit tip online

Online crime reporting (under $5,000)

If you are the victim of property crime such as theft or vandalism under $5,000, online reporting is available 24/7.

Contact your local RCMP or Crime Stoppers with information about illegal activity.

Alberta | AB, British Columbia, Coleman | Crowsnest Pass – Alberta, Crowsnest Pass – Alberta, Darius Macdougal – Lethbridge, Darius Macdougall – Lethbridge, Island Lake Provincial Recreation Area – Alberta, Lethbridge – Alberta, Missing Persons, Southwest Alberta Regional Search and Rescue | SARSAR, Sparwood – BC

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Pincher Creek leads region with 34.8% crime reduction in 2024

Written on . Posted in RCMP & Public Safety.

Crime stats down, but challenges remain in Piikani, Crowsnest Pass and Pincher Creek

Communities across southwestern Alberta are seeing safer streets with the Crime Severity Index dropping notably in Pincher Creek, Piikani Nation and Crowsnest Pass.

The CSI is a numerical figure that represents both the amount and severity of crime being committed in an area. High amounts of crime can result in a high CSI, though an area with lower rates of crime reported can still be assigned a high score if those crimes are serious. The baseline CSI score is 100.

The latest police-reported crime data from Statistics Canada show a provincewide 6.9 per cent decrease in CSI in Alberta RCMP jurisdictions — now at its second-lowest level since 2015.

According to a July 31 press release, 95 out of 147 jurisdictions had a decrease in the CSI from 2023 to 2024.

This trend includes southwestern Alberta, where Pincher Creek, Piikani Nation and Crowsnest Pass recorded a double-digit decrease in CSI, pointing to the impact of proactive policing, community partnerships and a focus on repeat offenders.

Here’s a closer look at what the numbers show and the stories behind the stats.

Pincher Creek sees 34.8% drop, led by crackdown on break-ins

The Pincher Creek detachment recorded a significant improvement in public safety last year, with its CSI falling to 76.4 in 2024 — a 34.8 per cent decrease from the revised 2023 score of 117.2. This marks one of the most notable year-over-year improvements in the region.

The decline is largely attributed to a sharp drop in break-and-enter reports, with 22 fewer cases. These incidents accounted for 17.2 per cent in the weighting of the detachment’s overall CSI.

“The big thing that drove that drop was focusing on the most prolific offenders,” Sgt. Ryan Hodge told Shootin’ the Breeze.

“We were really successful in getting them held in jail, through jail sentences, or they’ve left our community.”

Other major contributors to Pincher Creek’s 2024 CSI included fraud (12.9 per cent, 42 offences), other Criminal Code offences (10.3 per cent, 84 offences), theft under $5,000 (7.4 per cent, 71 offences) and assault (6.6 per cent, 46 offences).

While break-and-enters led the drop, fraud remains a growing concern, particularly online scams.

“This is something that we still see a lot of reports on, and people just need to be more educated and more aware of how these crimes are working,” Hodge said.

“People still fall for them to this day. They still give money to these online criminals. Sometimes it’s very high dollar value. It could be anything from a few hundred dollars up to tens of thousands of dollars.”

While crime rates in town remain generally even across neighbourhoods, Hodge noted a “big decrease” in rural areas of the municipal district — a shift he considers “a real positive.”

Community reporting and vigilance continue to be key, with groups like Citizens on Patrol and Rural Crime Watch playing active roles, he said.

“When people share information, we’re able to act more effectively,” he said. “It’s that open communication that makes a difference.”

Piikani Nation: Drug trafficking, property crime drive high CSI

Despite a CSI decrease of 13.2 per cent — from 683.9 in 2023 to 593.4 in 2024 — Piikani Nation remains one of the highest-scoring jurisdictions in Alberta, driven by complex factors around drug activity, violent crime and property offences.

Drug trafficking was the leading contributor to local CSI, with 31 offences making up 19.6 per cent of the weighting. Mischief to property followed closely, accounting for 18.7 per cent of the index, with a staggering 371 incidents. Assault ranked third, representing 14.2 per cent of the CSI with 134 cases.

Other significant contributors included other Criminal Code offences (88 cases, 6.2 per cent of CSI) and break-and-enters (16 incidents, 6.1 per cent).

The most impactful reduction came in the rare but high-weighted category of “other offences related to death.” A decline of two incidents in this category led to a CSI drop of 43.9 points.

Sgt. Vince Bacon from Piikani RCMP said the improvement is the result of sustained community engagement, noting officers have been visible and active throughout the community.

“We believe we’re able to engage with the public and develop that trust. The community is more willing to reach out to us with identified criminal offences so we can deal with them,” he said. “It’s the same with the drug dealers — with the public engaging with us, we’re able to get critical information to get search warrants approved.”

Crowsnest Pass CSI falls 13.2%, driven by proactive policing

The Crowsnest Pass detachment also saw a 13.2 per cent CSI reduction, dropping from 83.0 in 2023 to 72.1 in 2024.

Like Pincher Creek, a decline in break-and-enters led the change, with 18 fewer incidents accounting for a nine-point CSI drop. The offence still remained the most reported with 23 cases (15.8 per cent of CSI weight).

Among the most common crimes were assault (12.8 per cent of CSI, 71 cases), mischief to property (10.8 per cent, 119 cases), fraud (9.2 per cent, 32 cases) and vehicle theft (seven per cent, 27 cases).

“We are heavily influenced by travelling criminals and criminal enterprises that operate in and through our areas,” said Sgt. Mark Amatto of Crowsnest Pass RCMP. “Sometimes they’ll stop in, break into a garage, steal a vehicle, cause other damage.”

To counter this, local officers have increased visibility and relationship-building, from foot patrols to stopping into local businesses, he said.

The detachment also uses the Integrated Offender Management program, which Amatto described as a pragmatic way to reduce repeat offences.

“It’s not so much a bleeding-heart program,” he said, “but a practical, community-specific method to break the cycle of recidivism.”

A key priority in the Pass is increasing domestic violence reporting — not as a signal of rising crime, but as progress toward breaking silence in traditionally under-reported areas.

“By getting an increase in domestic violence reporting,” Ammato explains, “we can break into those cycles of domestic violence, hold people accountable for their actions, and also, more importantly, get those victims of crime and members of their family into the referral programs to help them make improvements to their life too, because it does need a break.”

Aggressive driving remains an ongoing concern in the Pass. Amatto encourages residents to report unsafe drivers and reminds the public that detailed reports can result in mailed tickets or roadside enforcement.

Looking ahead 

RCMP detachments across Pincher Creek, Crowsnest Pass and Piikani Nation are committed to sustaining the downward trend in crime through proactive strategies, community partnerships and targeted enforcement.

While challenges like property crime and drug trafficking remain, this year’s data suggests progress is being made and local efforts are starting to yield measurable results.

 

Strong local journalism matters to Canadian communities

This article was reported and written by Shootin’ the Breeze’s Local Journalism Initiative reporter. 

The Local Journalism Initiative is a federally funded program that supports original public-interest journalism in smaller or underserved communities across Canada. Content produced through the initiative is editorially independent and may be shared by other Canadian media outlets.

Stories like this are created to keep readers informed and connected — and to reflect real Canadian life.

 

 

Read More from Alberta RCMP

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

RCMP Crime Map

View approximate locations of thefts, break and enters, missing persons and high-crime areas in Alberta here.

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

Call in your tip: 1-800-222-8477 Submit tip online

Online crime reporting (under $5,000)

If you are the victim of property crime such as theft or vandalism under $5,000, online reporting is available 24/7.

Contact your local RCMP or Crime Stoppers with information about illegal activity.

Alberta | AB, Crime Statistics, Crowsnest Pass – Alberta, hodge, Piikani Nation | Brocket – Alberta, Ryan Hodge – Pincher Creek, Statistics Canada, Vince Bacon – Piikani Nation | Brocket

The image features the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) crest on a background of blue and red police lights, with the text "Crowsnest Pass RCMP" in bold white letters on a black banner.

Charges progress in Crowsnest Pass drug and weapons case

Written on . Posted in RCMP & Public Safety.

Update – July 8, 2025

Court proceedings are moving ahead for two people charged following a police raid in Crowsnest Pass late last month.

Blair Mielke was released on bail following a court appearance July 3 in Lethbridge. He is scheduled to return to Fort Macleod court Sept. 11 for election and plea.

Terri-Ann Smith remains in custody after her appearance July 2. She is due back in Fort Macleod court July 9, with trial set for Aug. 14.

The charges stem from a June 27 search by RCMP and partner agencies that uncovered drugs, weapons, and stolen property. Two people were arrested and charged.

RCMP continue to encourage residents to report suspicious activity to the Crowsnest Pass detachment or anonymously through Crime Stoppers.

Two arrested in Crowsnest Pass drug and weapons bust

July 1, 2025

A police raid in Crowsnest Pass led to the arrest of two people and the seizure of drugs, weapons and stolen property.

RCMP say officers executed a search warrant on June 27 at a residence and vehicle in the Tecumseh Drive area. The operation involved officers from the Crowsnest Pass detachment, Emergency Response Team, Police Dog Services and Crime Reduction Teams, with support from ALERT SCAN.

During the search, police seized seven firearms — including one confirmed stolen — along with two prohibited unpinned 21-round pistol magazines.

They also recovered 18.5 grams of powder cocaine, 5.9 grams of psilocybin, 0.3 grams of crack cocaine, a stolen vehicle and a large quantity of stolen lottery tickets.

Four people were arrested at the scene.

Blair Mielke, 48, of Crowsnest Pass faces multiple charges including possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking, possession of trafficking tools, 10 weapons offences, and three counts of possessing property obtained by crime.

He remains in custody and is scheduled to appear in Alberta Court of Justice in Lethbridge on July 3.

Terri-Ann Smith, 48, also of Crowsnest Pass, was charged with possession of property obtained by crime. She remains in custody with a Lethbridge court appearance set for July 2.

RCMP are encouraging the public to report suspicious activity to the Crowsnest Pass detachment at 403-562-2867 or contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), online at www.P3Tips.com or through the “P3 Tips” app available on Apple or Google Play.

 

 

Alberta | AB, Crime, Crowsnest Pass – Alberta, Weapon and Firearm Offences

Weather whiplash – summer comes in on sleds

Written on . Posted in RCMP & Public Safety, Weather.

After a tinder-dry spring, the first days of summer came with a heavy rainfall warning for southwestern Alberta. The downpour led to safety concerns and some event cancellations, including the Heritage Acres Horse Show in Pincher Creek and the international Minotaur SkyRace in Crowsnest Pass.

Four members of Southwest Alberta Regional Search and Rescue were on snowmobiles sweeping Highway 532 where precipitation came down as snow on Saturday.

Hazardous conditions had already led to one motorist receiving help from RCMP and a bystander earlier in the day, and SARSAR’s task was to confirm no one else was stranded along the high pass between highways 22 and 40. The road was closed afterward.

Based in Pincher Creek and Crowsnest Pass, SARSAR is a volunteer team providing search-and-rescue services throughout the region.

Conditions in the mountains can turn quickly and this weather event is a reminder of the importance of being informed and prepared before hitting the road.

 

 

Alberta | AB, Crowsnest Pass – Alberta, Snowfall Warning – Crowsnest Pass, Snowfall Warning – Pincher Creek, Snowfall Warning – Southwest Alberta, Southwest Alberta Regional Search and Rescue | SARSAR, Weather

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Crowsnest Pass man charged for indecent act

Written on . Posted in Uncategorized.

A Crowsnest Pass man has been charged with committing an indecent act, following an RCMP investigation into community concerns.

Crowsnest Pass RCMP say Bob Stelmack was charged May 25 under Section 173(1) of the Criminal Code. According to police, the charge was laid after allegations were substantiated by a thorough investigation.

In a statement released online, RCMP addressed the public directly, saying the update was intended to ensure accurate information is available to the community. Officers also encouraged residents to continue reporting concerning behaviour.

Police noted that if any safety risk to the community were identified, a safety bulletin would be issued.

No further details about the incident were released.

Alberta | AB, alberta news, Crime, Crowsnest Pass – Alberta, Crowsnest Pass News