A 32-year-old man from Red Deer escaped serious injury after his motorhome was set on fire in the Morley area by an unknown suspect June 20, according to Alberta RCMP Media Spokesperson Corporal Sharon Franks.
“My understanding is it happened in the Chief Chiniki (Restaurant) area,” Franks said. “He’d pulled over to the side of the road by an old gas station when the incident occurred.”
The victim reported speaking to an unknown suspect near his motorhome prior to it being lit on fire.
Cochrane RCMP searched the area with assistance from the RCMP Police Dog Services and Calgary Police Services HAWCS helicopter but was unable to find the suspect.
According to Franks, the incident remains under investigation. She said there have been reports of an explosion in the area.
The victim was transported to Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary by EMS from Stoney Nakoda Fire Nations with burns to his legs in serious but stable, non life-threatening condition, according to EMS Spokesman Stuart Brideaux.
Franks said RCMP is seeking the help of the public to identify the suspect involved in this incident.
A routine traffic stop June 14 by a member of the Banff RCMP Traffic Services Roving Traffic Unit netted a large quantity of drugs and resulted in charges against a Calgary man, according to Franks.
The RCMP member stopped a car for speeding as it was travelling eastbound on Highway 1 near Banff. The driver, Stefan Lelic, 22, of Calgary was detained while a Parks Canada narcotics detection dog was brought to the scene after the member detected the odour of a controlled substance in the vehicle.
A search of the vehicle turned up eight grams of marijuana, 23,860 grams of MDMA, or ecstasy, and $3,900 Canadian dollars. RCMP estimates the value of the drugs to be approximately $1.4 million.
Lelic has been charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking and possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000. He appeared in court June 20 and was released on bail. His next court appearance is July 20.
According to Franks, “these drugs, and in their quantity, had they reached communities in Alberta, could have had a devastating effect on the health and safety of Albertans.”
If you have information about any crime, contact your local RCMP detachment or CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at tipsubmit.com
