Parole conditions didn’t stop a two-time convicted bank robber from holding up a small Bragg Creek branch last week.
On July 13, a man approached a lone bank teller as she opened the Alberta Treasury Branch in Bragg Creek at around 10 a.m. While brandishing a 10-inch long knife, and with his face hidden by a balaclava, the man demanded money. He took off in a car with an undisclosed amount of cash.
Despite being shook up by the incident, the teller was able to provide police with a detailed description of the robber.
Cst. Norman Mercier of the Cochrane RCMP said the teller’s ability to focus and remember the robber led to his arrest.
“The whole time she was concentrating on his clothes, description, words he said and anything else she observed,” Mercier said.
The teller remembered details as small as the colour of stitching on the man’s hoodie.
A suspect was arrested later that afternoon.
Jean Herve Veillette, 39, of Calgary is charged with robbery with a weapon, uttering threats, wearing a mask with intent to commit an indictable offence and assault.
At the time of the robbery, Veillete was on parole for an Edmonton bank robbery. He committed the robbery in Edmonton while on parole for an earlier bank robbery in Montreal. Following the Edmonton hold-up he was sent back to prison to finish the remainder of his seven-and-a-half year sentence and in 2005 was sentenced to an additional five years in prison.
Mercier said the suspect’s parole has been revoked on his current sentence and he will likely be sent back to the Drumheller institution.
Veillette will appear in Cochrane Provincial Court July 29.
On July 14, the Strathmore RCMP were called to an industrial accident in the Wrangler Industrial area of Rocky View County. A 47-year-old man from Calgary was trapped between the turret of a crane and the crane’s base. Emergency medical services took the man to the Foothills Hospital. He was seriously injured, but is in stable condition and is expected to make a full recovery. Alberta Occupational Health and Safety is investigating the incident.
On July 15 at about 5:40 p.m., the Strathmore RCMP responded to a two-vehicle collision on Glenmore Trail two miles east of Calgary.
Witnesses reported seeing a dark grey, older model Jaguar driving east on Glenmore from Calgary, when it made an abrupt left turn at a rural intersection, turning directly into the path of a motorcycle that was driving eastbound on Glenmore. The resulting collision injured the motorcyclist. The Jaguar then fled the scene of the collision, driving west into Calgary on Glenmore Trail.
The Strathmore RCMP believe that several motorists along Glenmore Trail may have seen this Jaguar both before and after this collision as witnesses have described it as driving aggressively and passing other motorists.
The RCMP is seeking the assistance of the public in identifying this vehicle, which is described as:
• A late 1970s to 1980s Jaguar
• Dark grey in colour
• Possibly rusting in areas
• Having a sunroof
• Transporting two male occupants
• Possibly having damage along the left side of the vehicle
• Now believed to be missing a muffler
On July 10 at about 4:25 a.m., Chestermere RCMP officers stopped a white Ford F-250 truck near Chestermere Town Hall.
The truck was displaying a stolen licence plate that did not match the vehicle. The driver, and only occupant, was arrested without incident for possession of stolen property. The subsequent investigation revealed the truck had been stolen from a company in Airdrie. A large number of power tools were found inside the vehicle.
“The driver has no links to Chestermere and claims to be living in Calgary,” said Chestermere RCMP S/Sgt. Glenn Henry. “He admitted to having a substance abuse problem.”
Kenneth Stewart Hunt, 39, is facing two charges of possession of property obtained by crime, possession of a master key, one charge of possession of a controlled substance and driving while unauthorized.
A Judicial Interim Release hearing was conducted and the accused is being held in custody until he can appear before a judge.
“Chestermere RCMP have added early morning enhanced patrols to detect and reduce theft of motor vehicles and other property crimes,” said Henry. “This incident is an example of the effectiveness of this program and the dedication of the Chestermere RCMP members.”
On June 29, Chestermere RCMP members received a complaint of a stolen “Cona” mountain bike that was taken from a residence on Lakeview Inlet.
During the night or early morning hours of June 29, the lock was cut off and the bike was taken. This bike is green and light blue. It has “Ditch Witch” rims, “Bomber” front shocks and upgraded “Shimano” gears. The bike is valued at more than $3,000.
On June 30 in Lyalta, Strathmore RCMP were dispatched to break and enters at the Muirfield Village Golf Clubhouse, an inactive water plant, a show home and four construction sites.
Suspects gained entry to the clubhouse sometime overnight, and an undisclosed amount of cash and property were taken from the pro shop, kitchen and general manager’s office. The property that was stolen includes a small flat screen television, golf clubs, food, clothing and several embroidered towels with the Muirfield Golf Course logo.
Suspects also broke into and vandalized the showhome, located on Murfield Close. Throughout the building, doors were broken, drywall was kicked in and a bucket of paint was dumped onto an oak staircase.
Various work trailers were broken into at four separate construction sites in Lyalta. The items taken from all the sites were spare keys for construction equipment, four paint sprayers, a Rigid 300 threading machine, a 18-volt Makita Cordless drill, a 18-volt Hilti cordless drill, a propane tank, three ladders and various hand tools.
On July 13, Strathmore RCMP was dispatched to a break and enter at the Langdon Drugs on Centre St. in Langdon. Suspects gained entry into the pharmacy sometime overnight by smashing a window of the front door. An undetermined amount of cash and property were taken from the business. The property stolen from the pharmacy included Gillette shaving supplies and a variety of pharmaceutical medications.
If you have information regarding these or any other crimes, contact your local RCMP or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (1-800-222-8477).
