Airdrie RCMP say the story of a carjacking that resulted in a man being driven around Airdrie and the surrounding communities for five hours was a hoax.
On Jan. 27, Police charged 27-year-old Christoper Scoffield of Three Hills, with public mischief for reporting that he was held at gunpoint, assaulted, forced to drive for hours and robbed on Jan. 7. Police have determined the complaint was false and do not believe that a robbery or assault occurred.
The RCMP took the charges very seriously and used the canine section, a helicopter and a plane to look into the case. Police also composed a sketch of the supposed suspect.
“Police would like the public to be aware that the person identified as a suspect in the sketch released by police did not have any involvement in this occurrence,” said Cst. Rob Frizzell. “Police would also like to remind the public that serious allegations require extensive manpower, the use of specialized sections, and vast police resources. Anyone knowingly fabricating a crime and causing the police to enter into an investigation, may face serious charges under the Criminal Code of Canada.”
Scoffield is scheduled to appear in Airdrie Provincial Court on March 3.
On Jan. 27 at about 7:20 p.m., a 17-year-old driver struck a 63-year-old man with a vehicle at the intersection of Quigley Drive and West Arsby Road in Cochrane.
Cochrane RCMP, EMS and the Fire Department attended the scene and the intersection was closed for one hour during the investigation. The driver has been charged with failing to yield to a pedestrian under the Traffic Safety Act. The pedestrian was taken to the Foothills Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Anyone who witnessed the collision is asked to contact the Cochrane RCMP.
On Jan. 21, a residence on Seagreen Way in Chestermere was broken into.
The same house was searched on Jan. 11 and police seized 214 marijuana plants. At that time, the residence was secured and power was turned off. On Jan. 21, two suspects were arrested inside. A third suspect fled the scene on foot but police know his identity.
Police believe the location was targeted as information on the grow-op circulated and people were aware that the homeowners would be absent, leaving some expensive items such as televisions and electronics. The owner of the property has not confirmed if anything was taken as a result of the break and enter.
On Jan. 25 at 1:15 a.m., Cochrane RCMP received a complaint of an older man dressed in a dark blue housecoat, pajama pants and slippers walking eastbound on Highway 8, between Range Road 31 and Lott Creek Boulevard.
The man was walking in the centre of the road heading east. Cochrane RCMP, Calgary Police Service, HAWCs and RCMP Police Dog Service searched the area but were unable to locate the man. Checks at local hospitals were also unsuccessful.
The Cochrane RCMP is asking the public to contact the detachment if anyone has seen the man or picked him up.
Hit and run
Sometime over night, Jan. 16-17, a silver Honda Civic, parked on Cove Drive in Chestermere, was struck in a hit and run. The car sustained damages to the rear driver’s side bumper.
On the night of Jan. 19, a Ford F550 truck was stolen from a lease site north of Highway 9, east of Beiseker.
The vehicle is described as a white, 2007 Ford F550, with an Alberta licence plate: FYT 453. The truck had a red picker unit in the box and a decal of #015-0426 on the front quarter panels and tailgate.
If anyone has information on any unsolved crime, call you local RCMP detachment or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
