On January 17, at approximately 6 p.m., A Picture Butte officer attempted to pull over a truck west on Highway 845 near Nobleford. The vehicle fled and was later located abandoned north of the community. 

The registered owner from Calgary had recently reported his truck as stolen. With the assistance of the Lethbridge RCMP Forensic Identification Section and Lethbridge City Police, a suspect was identified and later arrested in Lethbridge. The male currently remains in custody on these charges as well several others that are outstanding from multiple jurisdictions throughout southern Alberta 

The male who normally resided in Coaldale is scheduled for a bail hearing on March 8th, 2018 in Lethbridge Provincial Court.


On a separate arrest, a 26 year old female recently pled guilty in Red Deer Provincial Court to multiple charges of theft, break and enter, possession of stolen property, flight from police, dangerous driving and assault with a weapon. Some of these charges stem from the 2015 Coalhurst theft of a stolen truck, travel trailer, and back hoe which were recovered a few days later north of Nobleford. The female received a 8 months global custodial sentence.

"The RCMP and its municipal law enforcement partners continue to target repeat offenders who are responsible for much of the rural crime in our community,"  says Sergeant Tom Howell, Picture Butte RCMP detachment commander. “Anyone who has information about this investigation or other incidents should contact their local law enforcement agency.”