Calgary, AB,
04
January
2018
|
15:36
America/Denver

Thirty-one charges laid in stolen vehicle investigation

The Calgary Police Service District Operations Team has charged one woman and one man in relation to a stolen vehicle investigation.

On Friday, Dec. 29, 2017, a woman driving a stolen vehicle entered a gym, located in the 12800 block of 48 Street S.E., and proceeded into the female locker room. While inside, it is alleged she cut the lock off of one of the lockers and stole a victim’s wallet and keys before leaving the scene in the same stolen vehicle.

A CPS District Operations Team followed the vehicle until it parked in the 8000 block of 33 Avenue N.W., where uniformed members arrested the female driver and a male passenger without incident. Members from the Tactical Unit and Canine Unit also assisted in the arrest.

Upon arrest, the female driver was found to be in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. The male passenger was wearing body armour when arrested and was also found to be in possession of stolen identity documents for multiple different people as well as methamphetamine. A search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of break and enter tools and the wallet stolen earlier from the gym.

The stolen vehicle used to commit this offence was taken during a residential break and enter in the community of Edgemont on Sunday, Dec. 24, 2017.

Jessi Dawn BYRON, 23, of Calgary, has since been charged with one count each of possession of stolen property over $5,000, theft under $5,000, possession of methamphetamine, possession of break-in instruments, operating a motor vehicle without a licence, driving an uninsured vehicle and 18 counts of failing to comply with a probation order. BYRON will next appear in court on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2018.

Johnathon Leslie BARTRAM, 35, of Calgary, has since been charged with one count each of possession of body armour without a valid permit, possession of break-in instruments, possession of methamphetamine, four counts of possession of stolen property under $5,000, and three counts of possession of identity documents. BARTRAM will next appear in court on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2018.

The Service currently has five District Operations Teams (DOTs), which are mandated to reduce crime throughout the city by focusing on prominent crime trends and carrying out covert operations to address them. In August 2017, the Service dedicated one DOT to focus solely on auto theft, with the assistance of the other teams as needed. As a majority of stolen vehicles are driven in a very dangerous and reckless manner, DOTs are often used in coordination with HAWCS to track stolen vehicles until officers are able to stop the vehicle and safely arrest the occupants.

Case #17557698/4626