Cochrane RCMP has kicked off 2019, by arresting a number of individuals over the past few days. 

In total six individuals will appear in front of Cochrane Court in relation to three recovered stolen vehicles, states Constable Kary Moore with the Cochrane RCMP.

The three separate incidents occurred this past Monday through to Wednesday (January 7-9), and thanks to the Crime Reduction team, the RCMP were able to arrest six people all from the Morley area.

On Monday (January 7), RCMP was advised that a vehicle equipped with OnStar was stolen from Canmore. With the assistance of OnStar, RCMP was able to locate and recover the stolen vehicle from rural Cochrane and thanks to good work by the RCMP Police Dog Services, two suspects were located and arrested nearby. Malik Holloway (20) has been charged with one count of Possession of Stolen Property over $5000, plus additional charges along with Stephawn Hunter (22). Holloway is scheduled for court on January 15th while Hunter will make an appearance on January 29th.

The following day (January 8), RCMP were tipped off about an erratic driver entering the Cochrane area who's license plate was connected to a stolen vehicle from Calgary. Due to their efforts, they were able to locate the stolen vehicle in rural Cochrane alongside a second reported stolen vehicle also from Calgary. RCMP Police Dog Services were also utilized in this arrest. Dennis Wildman (39) and Richard Hunter (46) both face charges of possession of stolen property over $5000 plus additional charges. Hunter's court date is set for January 22nd while Wildman will make his appearance on January 29th.

The crime wouldn't end there, though, as Cochrane RCMP were then dispatched to a residence in Cochrane in the early morning hours of the 9th, with the news that that homeowner had been bear sprayed. Upon arrival, RCMP learned the homeowner had interrupted two males who were attempting to steal his vehicle. Police Dog Services tracked down two male suspects closeby and although the homeowner received a minor injury he did not require hospital assistance. Lyle Bearspaw (25) and Jacob Wesley (18) have both been charged with robbery along with numerous other charges. Both Bearspaw and Wesley will face the Cochrane Court on January 14th.

Constable Moore gives credit to new technologies, initiatives, and analysis tools, that assist the Crime Reduction Team in their efforts to focus on crime hot spots and the few offenders who commit most of the crime.