The body of a missing Calgary man found on the Stoney Nakoda Nation has been identified as 25-year-old Suryan Giama.
Cochrane RCMP responded to a call from a citizen who found human remains on the Nation June 30. The local detachment notified Calgary Police Services major crimes unit, which attended the scene to collect the remains.
The homicide investigation is ongoing and cause of death remains unknown.
Giama was last seen by a family member at a house in the southwest Calgary community of Woodbine on Feb. 17. His dark grey, 2007 Toyota Camry was found in the Britannia/Elboya area of Calgary on March 19.
Following an investigation, the matter was declared a homicide investigation and police are looking to the public for assistance.
Vehicle roll
On July 4 at 6:18 a.m., Cochrane RCMP received a call about a vehicle travelling westbound on Bearspaw Road, north of Highway 1A that veered off the road, rolled and proceeded to continue driving.
RCMP located a vehicle at a nearby residence with significant damage matching the description given and found the driver to appear intoxicated. There was no indication of injuries and RCMP were unable to substantiate their suspicions of drunk driving.
Three injured
Three people were taken to hospital, following a July 6 collision.
At 10:40 a.m., Cochrane RCMP received a call advising of a collision between two westbound vehicles on Highway 1, west of Highway 22.
A motorhome was reported to have veered out of its lane, toward the shoulder of the road, overcorrecting and returning to the lane, striking a westbound SUV.
Two motorhome occupants and one SUV passenger were taken to hospital.
According to an RCMP press release, the motorhome was ‘destroyed’ in the collision.
While weather, road conditions and alcohol are not believed to be factors, the investigation remains ongoing.
Increased enforcement
Cochrane recreational users may notice an increased presence from members of the local RCMP detachment on waterways, in parks and open spaces and throughout the trail system, beginning July 10.
“It’s a detachment initiative,” said Corp. Mel Calahasen with the local RCMP.
“We’re trying to become more visible in the community.”
Calahasen said this includes patrolling the trails, waterways and park systems in rural Cochrane areas, to ensure area boaters aren’t operating under the influence and are supplied with emergency supplies and general knowledge with how to operate small vessels on waterways.
Members from the local detachment will be patrolling on foot, bike, boat and ATVs with hopes that an increased presence will ‘maximize safety and curtail criminal or suspicious activity throughout the summer season’, according to a press release sent out July 7.
With prevention in mind, Calahasen said an increased RCMP presence is an educational tool to “get to know the community and be a part of the community.”
“We’re hoping more people will see members of the RCMP on the street and say hello.”
Fatal collision
A Chestermere family is grieving after two of their loved ones were killed in a single-vehicle rollover on Highway 1 and Range Road 283 north of the town on July 8.
RCMP received a number of calls from witnesses at approximately 9:30 p.m.
The driver, a 19-year-old man from Chestermere, died at the scene. His passenger, a 41-year-old-woman, also from Chestermere, was transported to hospital in Calgary where she later died.
Sgt. Steve Vince from the Strathmore RCMP said the deceased are from the same family, but RCMP are not able to confirm their relationship. They were the sole occupants of the vehicle.
Units from both the Chestermere and Strathmore RCMP detachments were called to the scene after witnesses called to report a minivan eastbound on Highway 1 had lost control, rolled through the median and landed on the westbound shoulder.
Vince said police believe speed could be a factor in the accident, however, the investigation is ongoing.
Fiery crash near Irricana
Sgt. Glen Demmon of the Beiseker RCMP said it could be a while before investigators are able to positively identify the adult male killed when an SUV collided head-on with a gravel truck south of Irricana on July 9.
The collision occurred on Highway 9 at Township Road 270, approximately four kilometres south of the town around 9:20 a.m.
Both vehicles ignited upon impact. The male driver of the SUV died at the scene while the 38-year-old male driver of the gravel truck was airlifted to the Foothills Hospital in Calgary by STARS Air Ambulance where he remains in critical, life-threatening condition, according to RCMP. There were no other people in the vehicles.
RCMP said witnesses saw the northbound SUV swerve sharply to the right before overcorrecting and into the path of the oncoming gravel truck. Based on witness reports, Demmon said RCMP believe the driver may have been distracted, causing the accident. The investigation continues and no charges have been laid.
Conviction
A 22-year-old man from the Stoney First Nation plead guilty on July 9 to one count of arson in connection with the August 2012 fire that completely destroyed the Chief Chiniki Restaurant on Highway 1 near Morley.
Noelan Twoyoungmen received a two-year sentence to be served in a federal facility.
Crews from the Nakoda, Cochrane and Springbank fire departments responded to the early morning fire on Aug. 21, but were not able to save the local business. Damage was estimated at over $1 million.
If you have any information on an unsolved crime, call your local RCMP detachment or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
