Chestermere RCMP is investigating a hit-and-run on Sept. 24 that left one man seriously injured.
The incident occurred at 11:30 p.m. going eastbound on Highway 1 near the Paradise Road turnoff, west of Chestermere, according to information provided by RCMP.
The 57 year old man was found unconscious near the shoulder of the road, by Strathmore RCMP and Chestermere RCMP who arrived on the scene after receiving a call from a passing motorist.
Constable Clint Chisan of the Strathmore RCMP said the man remains in a Calgary hospital in serious but stable condition.
Investigators are trying to determine how the man was injured, according to Chisan.
“His injuries are not consistent with the impact of a high-speed vehicle,” Chisan said. “However, there are indicators that a vehicle was involved in his injuries. Neither are (his injuries) necessarily the result of an assault or anything like that.”
According to Chisan, there were no signs the man was under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the incident.
The injured man is known to police and is also known to frequently walk in the area where he was hit. According to RCMP, he was wearing dark clothing at the time of the incident and luggage was found nearby.
“The person is a transient,” Chisan explained. “He doesn’t have a fixed address.”
Chisan said the name of the man is being withheld pending notification of next-of-kin.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing, according to RCMP.
“We really are looking for assistance from anyone who was in the area that night and has anything that could help us out with this,” Chisan said.
Crimes linked
A man and a woman wanted in connection with a theft at the Balzac Costco on July 25 could also be linked to similar crimes in Calgary, according to Airdrie RCMP.
“Apparently, the investigator has been in contact with Calgary Police Services because the individuals did attempt to pay and did have a membership card so we do have an idea who they are,” said Airdrie RCMP Media Liaison Constable Jason Curtis.
“There may be on-going incidences with these individuals in Calgary. There is going to be more forthcoming on this case.”
Curtis was not able to provide details about the crimes that occurred in Calgary.
However, the man and woman are wanted for a theft at the Balzac Costco that happened on July 25. According to RCMP, the man and woman filled their cart with items and went to a checkout.
“They attempted to pay; their debit card was declined. (They) attempted to pay by cheque and staff indicated they’d need to talk to a manager and asked the pair to wait,” Curtis said. “While (staff) went to get a manager, they grabbed the cart and off they went.”
“The staff attempted to intercept to talk to them,” Curtis said. “The man said ‘oh, my wife has the receipt’ and went out quickly with the cart. When (the staff member) tried to talk to the female, the female brushed by as fast as she could.”
“These people were aware they did not pay. It wasn’t an accident,” he added. “It was deliberate.”
The store called RCMP who reviewed the video surveillance footage.
The man is described as Caucasian, in his early 30s, 5’10” tall with a slender build and short, dark hair. He was wearing a black ball cap and a white track suit.
The woman is also Caucasian, in her early 30s, 5’3” tall with an average build. She had distinctive pink hair and was wearing glasses, a gray shirt with a black sweater, blue jeans and red shoes.
Curtis said although a membership card was presented, the individuals can not be identified because they have yet to be charged.
CrossIron Mills theft
The Bench store in the CrossIron Mills mall near Balzac was the target of a pair of thieves on Sept. 19, according to RCMP.
The theft was caught on the store’s video surveillance at 8 p.m.
According to Curtis, two men entered the store, grabbed a number of pieces of clothing and hid these under the clothes they were already wearing before leaving the store. The two men waited until staff were not looking to conceal the stolen clothing.
The theft was noticed by a staff member a short time later and RCMP was called.
Curtis said it was only possible to get a good photo of one of the men on the video surveillance. He is described as being in 30s, with a heavy build and short, close-cropped, dark hair, He was wearing a white T-shirt and a necklace.
According to Curtis, the store clerk was not able to provide a description of the other man either.
Internet Fraud
Although RCMP have not yet received any reports of a new Internet fraud scheme reported to them directly, Curtis said they wanted to warn residents of the potential danger the scam presents.
In this scam, an individual receives an email from what looks to be the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) that indicates funds need to be deposited to their account.
The email asks the individual to click on a link and when they do, they are taken to a website that looks like the CRA site but is not. They are asked to provide personal details like their Social Insurance Number and credit card information.
No funds are ever deposited and the people operating the scam have collected sensitive personal information. Called phishing, schemes like this are often elaborate and use sophisticated websites to con people into providing personal information.
“If in doubt about a communication alleging to be from a bank or government agency, call the agency and confirm,” Curtis said.
“Do not provide information online, and be cautious clicking on links from unknown sources.”
If you have any information on any crime, call your local RCMP detachment or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477)
