Calgary man charged with weapons offences, impersonating a soldier
A Calgary man accused of posing as an ex-military member and providing survivalist training under false credentials is now facing charges.
The investigation began in May after police were alerted about a man operating a firearms training, survival training and women’s self-defence company called Sheep Dog Enterprises out of his southeast Calgary home.
"It is alleged that the man was in possession of several firearms, did not possess proper documentation nor licencing for firearms, and had not been involved with the military at any point," police said in a release.
"It is also believed that the man falsified documentation and deceived his way into veterans’ and law enforcement support groups."
Police obtained a search warrant and the man's home was searched on July 6, when several firearms were seized, along with multiple falsified documents, forged ID badges and body armour.
Bradley Bell, 35, is charged with:
- One count of unlawful use of military uniforms or certificates;
- Three counts of possession of a firearm while unauthorized;
- Three counts of careless use, storage, handling and transportation of a firearm;
- Two counts of possession of stolen property under $5,000;
- One count of possession of body armour without a valid permit, and;
- Traffic Safety Act charges, including driving while unauthorized, driving without registration and driving while uninsured.
"We are still working to understand why Mr. Bell went to such lengths to represent himself as an ex-member of the Canadian military," said Calgary police Sgt. Ben Lawson.
"Regardless of his motivation, we recognize that illegal possession and improper handling of firearms can have significant impacts on community safety."
The group Stolen Valour Canada issued a statement:
"We remember the blood, sweat and tears that it took to earn a piece of metal attached to coloured ribbon, a strip of cloth or an embroidered badge, we are also most protective of the title 'veteran,'" it read.
"Fakery is not flattery, it’s cold, calculated deception. Over the course of the past seven years, SVC has exposed posers, fakes and embellishers who have used their false military narratives to 'sell their services/skills,' secure access to employment opportunities or advance their political aspirations. Intimidation, theft, fraud including accessing veteran/military benefits, questionable charity schemes, embezzlement and dating scams are routinely connected with false claims of armed forces service.
"Fortunately, many veterans serve in Canada’s police services and they recognize that stolen valour is often the tip of the iceberg. SVC commends the CPS for their successful investigation in this case and we’ll will watch for further developments concerning potential 'stolen valour' charges."
Police say the investigation continues and further charges could be laid.
Anyone with information is asked to call police at 403-266-1234 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Appeals court overturns Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction from landmark trial
New York’s highest court on Thursday overturned Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction, finding the judge at the landmark #MeToo trial prejudiced the ex-movie mogul with improper rulings, including a decision to let women testify about allegations that weren’t part of the case.
BREAKING Honda to get up to $5B in govt help for EV battery, assembly plants
Honda is set to build an electric vehicle battery plant next to its Alliston, Ont., assembly plant, which it is retooling to produce fully electric vehicles, all part of a $15-billion project that is expected to include up to $5 billion in public money.
1 arrested in northern Alberta during public shelter order
Residents of John D'Or Prairie, a community on the Little Red River Cree Nation in northern Alberta, were told to take shelter Thursday morning during a police operation.
Secret $70M Lotto Max winners break their silence
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Remains from a mother-daughter cold case were found nearly 24 years later, after a deathbed confession from the suspect
A West Virginia father is getting some sense of closure after authorities found the remains of his young daughter and her mother following a deathbed confession from the man believed to have fatally shot them nearly two decades ago.
Monthly earnings rise, payroll employment falls: jobs report
The number of vacant jobs in Canada increased in February, while monthly payroll employment decreased in food services, manufacturing, and retail trade, among other sectors.
First in Canada procedure performed at London, Ont. hospital
A London man has become the first person in Canada to receive a robotic assisted surgery on his spine. Dave Myeh suffered from debilitating, chronic back pain that led to sciatica in his right now and extreme pain in his lower back.
Doctors say capital gains tax changes will jeopardize their retirement. Is that true?
The Canadian Medical Association asserts the Liberals' proposed changes to capital gains taxation will put doctors' retirement savings in jeopardy, but some financial experts insist incorporated professionals are not as doomed as they say they are.
Something in the water? Canadian family latest to spot elusive 'Loch Ness Monster'
For centuries, people have wondered what, if anything, might be lurking beneath the surface of Loch Ness in Scotland. When Canadian couple Parry Malm and Shannon Wiseman visited the Scottish highlands earlier this month with their two children, they didn’t expect to become part of the mystery.