Category: Breaking News

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Breaking News Ft Mac

RMWB Employee Charged With Child Pornography Offences

child pornography, RMWB employee

An RMWB employee has been charged with child pornography offences by Alberta police. Police have reported that Phil Walding, a 50 year old who works for the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo as the Chief Taxi Inspector, has been charged with a single count of accessing child pornography and also a single count of possession of child pornography. As of last Friday Walding was suspended with pay by the municipality “pending the outcome of an investigation.” In a statement released concerning Walding the municipality stated “The RMWB takes this matter very seriously and is cooperating fully with the police,” and then included the fact that Walding’s work area has been secured and placed under lock down during the investigation. Walding was arrested at his home in Wood Buffalo and the Wood Buffalo RCMP assisted the Alberta police in the arrest. Wood Buffalo RCMP also assisted in executing a search warrant of the home.

Investigation into the child pornography charges against RMWB employee Phil Walding started in June, when ALERT received information from the RCMP’s National Child Exploitation Coordination Centre. This is the Canadian version of the American National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children, and the American organization passed along information about child pornography. The offences that Walding has been charged with are alleged to have happened in April according to Sgt. Lokken. Evidence was discovered when the search warrant was executed. According to Sgt. Lokken the offences are not believed to have been connected with Walding’s employment in any way.

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Alberta Breaking News Ft Mac

Child Pornography and Sexual Exploitation Charges Brought Against Former Commuter to Fort MacMurray

child pornography, Fort MacMurray, William Swanson

A former commuter to the Fort MacMurray area has been charged for possessing child pornography and for sexual exploitation, and there are numerous charges pending against the suspect. In March of 2015 police became aware that 36 year old Edmonton resident and Fort MacMurray commuter William Swanson was alleged to have shared child pornography online using the Internet while he was at a work camp situated close to Fort MacMurray. A spokesperson for the police could not give an exact date for the incident and the investigation is still ongoing. Police are asking that anyone who was victimized by Swanson come forward, and this includes any victims who may be located in or near Fort MacMurray. Swanson s also charged with offenses related to luring a young girl who was underage for sexual exploitation purposes by pretending he was a professional photographer.

In addition to the child pornography offenses while at the Fort MacMurray work camp police say that William Swanson met a 16 year old using an advertisement that the girl posted on a website. Swanson posed as a professional photographer, even having the teen sign fake contracts and then taking nude photos of her over a number of photo shoots and meetings. According to ALERT spokesperson Mike Tucker “He was very sophisticated in drawing up contracts that (the victim) thought were supposed modeling contracts. These types of individuals will prey on any insecurities or ambitions of these victims to try to get what they want.” Anyone who knows anything about William Swanson or his activities should contact law enforcement.

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Breaking News Ft Mac

Clearwater Crescent Raid in Fort MacMurray Associated with Recent Spate of Shootings in the Area

Clearwater Crescent raid, Fort MacMurray

People in the downtown area may have been surprised recently by the Clearwater crescent raid in Fort MacMurray. The event took place on Thursday morning, and the raid was associated with the recent spate of shootings in the area. At approximately 10 am Thursday morning roughly a dozen officers who were heavily armed swarmed the Clearwater Crescent apartment complex, and police vehicles blocked access so that no one could enter the apartments during the raid. Many of the officers involved had carbine rifles, and they were wearing camouflage clothing and body armor. Around 30 minutes after the raid started 3 individuals were removed from the apartments and taken away in police vehicles. Another individual was taken from the apartments and placed in an ambulance.

The provincial RCMP detachment spokesperson could not confirm whether anyone was arrested during the Clearwater Crescent raid in Fort MacMurray, and she explained that people may be transported in a police vehicle without being placed under arrest. A news release from the RCMP stated that the police were not able to share operation details right now. RCMP Sgt. Josée Valiquette did say “However, we can say that the situation is under control and there is no concern for public safety.” In the last few months there have been a number of shootings downtown, and two were at the Clerwater Crescent apartments. Two additional shootings took place at the Morris Centre and Richmond Street. On May 16 one man was shot and killed at the apartments. On May 26, just 10 days later, another shooting at the same location caused injuries that proved fatal as well.

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Alberta Breaking News Ft Mac Health

Fort MacMurray Drug Bust Leads to Criminal Charges

Fort MacMurray drug bust, criminal charges

A recent Fort MacMurray drug bust has led to criminal charges against two local men, and the individuals charged are accused of being the leaders in a Northern Alberta drug operation that was widespread and highly complex. Jason Mulley, 31 years old, and Patrick Felix, 34 years old, were both arrested last Wednesday after an early morning drug raid uncovered large quantities of cocaine and the narcotic pain medication fentanyl. ALERT spokesperson Mike Tucker said the raid will have a big impact on the local community. “When you look at fentanyl alone, and the number of overdose deaths it’s been tied too, it’s a very violent drug. And clearly, with cocaine, a very valuable commodity, highly addictive, it can destroy lives and families. Closely, drugs are tied to violence, and the criminal underworld.”

The Fort MacMurray drug bust is believed to have shut down a trafficking operation that spanned across Northern Alberta, hitting Edmonton and Fort MacMurray. Both of the men arrested are facing many criminal charges that include drug trafficking and conspiracy to traffic in narcotics. As part of the drug raid 5 homes in Fort MacMurray were searched, and police also searched a hotel room and a supplement store as well. A total of 7 arrests were made during the raid. Tucker discussed the local rise in fentanyl use, saying “Its use has grown incredibly over the past year. It’s very potent, very addictive, and just causes whole sorts of harms.” Two firearms and a number of vehicles were also seized by the police. The investigation started two years ago. Also charged as a result of the raid were Fort MacMurray residents Spencer Brown, Mandy Gauvreau, Rachel Jurich, and Alexander Jurich. Levi Lund of Edmonton was also charged, and arrest warrants are pending for Gary Partridge from Fairview and 22 year old Paul Ohelo from Fort MacMurray.

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Breaking News Ft Mac

Alberta Bank Robberies Lead to Criminal Charges for Wetaskiwin Man

Alberta bank robberies, criminal charges

A Wetaskiwin man is facing many criminal charges after committing 14 armed bank robberies across the Alberta province. 52 year old Christopher Allan Zubko is facing over 60 criminal charges and was caught in the act by the RCMP. Officer in Charge of the Strathcona County RCMP Supt. Gary Peck stated “These crimes put the public at considerable risk throughout many different communities in the province. The ability to work seamlessly with agencies across multiple jurisdictions proved invaluable in preventing further occurrences and potential harm to the public.” The 14 armed bank robberies occurred between January 2 and March 21 of this year. Eight of the banks robbed were in Edmonton, one bank was in Red Deer, two of the banks robbed were in Leduc, two were in Camrose, and one was located in Sherwood Park.

Some of the Alberta bank robberies involved the man facing criminal charges using women’s clothing as a disguise, and in all of the incidents the robber either showed a gun or stated that he had one. Staff Sgt. Simon Yum explained “When a teller gets robbed it’s very traumatic, and it’s especially more traumatic where a weapon is displayed, especially a gun.” Zubko was caught after his vehicle was pulled over by police and intelligence sharing led to surveillance on his activities. The arrest was made after Zubko was seen stealing women’s clothing and a wig, and then he put on the clothing and entered a Camrose financial institution. The arrest was made when Zubko exited the bank.

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Alberta Breaking News Economic

Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo Gives Approval for Alberta Separation

Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, Alberta separation

An Alberta separation has been unanimously approved by the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo council, setting the stage for a province of Wood Buufalo with former Mayor Melissa Blake being named premier. During the council meeting on Tuesday there was no debate, all of the councillors voted for Wood Buffalo to secede from the Alberta province within 6 minutes. The proposal was put forward by Councillor Tyran Ault, who argued that the council was always being asked to bail out the province. Ault said “It was a real eureka moment for me after I said that. Why not become our own province if we are already doing the province’s work?” This means that royalties and other financial assets will no longer be sent to Alberta, and the region will have better control over local matters.

The Alberta separation move by the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo may be costly due to constitutional challenges, and the municipality is in the process of gathering together a large legal team in order to fight any challenges that are issued. New premier and former Mayor Melissa Blake said “I’ve been very vocal that this is the time to catch up on infrastructure and review policies, but that requires lobbying the province and Ottawa. Council realized if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself.” Lawyers willing to work for the separation will receive free housing and be generously compensated in an effort to attract talented lawyers with the legal knowledge necessary to make the separation happen.