A Nanton resident, two women from Calgary and a man from Cochrane face theft and drug charges in connection with two unrelated RCMP investigations into stolen trucks that were aided by technology and driver error.
In the afternoon hours of Thursday, March 15, Calgary Police Service officials notified Nanton RCMP members that a stolen Ford F350 pickup truck had been tracked by GPS from Calgary to the town of Nanton. The truck was remotely disabled through the on-board GPS system and RCMP officers arrested a 37-year-old suspect. A search of the suspect and the stolen vehicle resulted in the recovery of illicit drugs believed to be methamphetamine and heroin.
Gregory Sigmunder Whitford of Nanton faces 14 charges including:
- Possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking
- Possession of property obtained by crime
- Failing to comply with probation
Several hours later, a Nanton RCMP member on patrol witnessed a Ford F350 enter the ditch east of Nanton on Highway 533. The officer determined the truck had been stolen and the three occupants of the vehicle, a man and two women, were arrested. The accused include:
- Kelly Paul Alexander, a 33-year-old man from Cochrane
- Tristen Chelsie Brewser, a 26-year-old woman from Calgary
- Sarah Turner Stewart, an 18-year-old woman from Calgary
A search of the truck resulted in the seizure of drugs, counterfeit cash, stolen credit cards and stolen identification. Alexander, Brewser and Stewart each face a number of charges including offences related to methamphetamine possession and possession of stolen property.
Whitford, Alexander and Brewser remain in police custody while Stewart has been released from custody. All four of the accused are scheduled to appear in Claresholm Provincial Court on Wednesday, March 21.
