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House fire claims two

Shortly after 7:00 a.m. on May 2nd, 2007 firefighters responded to a call of a house fire at 10120 160 Avenue in the city's Castle Downs subdivision.

When firefighters arrived there were no visible flames, but condensation on the windows told them a fire was likely smouldering inside.

As they went in the back door of the home they found a man in his 80s on the kitchen floor and a man in his 50s on the floor near the front door.

The older man was declared dead at the scene. The younger man was transported to the Royal Alexandra Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

It was reported the position of the bodies suggested the two men were trying to get out of the house when they were overcome » full details »

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Body found in basement

Police investigated a suspicious death on May 3rd, 2007 in the Kernohan neighbourhood of northeast Edmonton.

Police were called to a home on Clareview Road at about 2:30 p.m. after a man reported his wife missing.

Officers found the body of a woman in the home's basement and while there was no evidence of foul play, evidence were found on or near the body led to homicide detectives being called out.

Members of the forensics team were at the home for most of the day while officers interviewed neighbours.

The Edmonton Sun spoke to one person who said an older man lived at the address.

"I rarely see the man who lives there, and this woman the police are asking about, I've only seen her at the house once or twice," said the neighbour who did not want to be identified.

Area residents interviewed by the Edmonton Journal said they had seen police cars and ambulances in front of the house before.

About a month ago a woman in her 50s was taken to hospital. Since then her husband, also in his 50s, told neighbours she was not feeling well.

The medical examiner came back with a report the next day that indicated the woman took her own life, allowing police to conclude their investigation.

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Man throws wife onto highway

It was about 10:30 p.m. on May 8th, 2007 when a man driving on the Yellowhead Highway near the Ukrainian Village just east of Elk Island Park saw a woman seemingly jump out in front of his car.

The shocked motorist called 911 and Fort Saskatchewan RCMP responded.

RCMP Const. Jason Hoeksema told the Edmonton Journal the driver swerved quickly and narrowly missed the woman, who was in her late 30s.

"Basically, he was surprised he hadn't hit her," Hoeksema said.

The incident stemmed from a domestic squabble that took place beside the highway. The woman and her 38-year-old husband had parked near the road's shoulder and were arguing before he allegedly threw her onto the road.

The RCMP met the motorist, who had picked up the uninjured but distraught woman, further down the highway.

Police charged a 38-year-old man from Vegreville with attempted murder. He was due to appear in court May 24th, 2007 but was released on bail provided he abide by a curfew, abstain from alcohol and have no contact with the victim.

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Michael Dar

It must have seemed like a good idea at the time.

A couple of drinking buddies left a house party near 94th Street and 179th Avenue shortly after midnight on Saturday, May 12th, 2007 to go look for a friend who had gone in-line skating.

One man got behind the wheel of a Ford Ranger pickup truck while the other probably thought he could better search from the vantage point afforded by sitting on the truck's box cover.

"It was a rather foolish decision to ride in the bed of a pickup truck," said Edmonton police traffic Sgt. Regan James.

The man was launched from the back of the truck after it negotiated a slight bend in the road. He hit the side of a brand new Ford F-150 before landing on the asphalt.

A 23-year-old man was pronounced dead in hospital a short time later. Police were withholding his name pending notification of next of kin but the Edmonton Sun published his name when family members complained he was unfairly portrayed in the media as a foolish drunk » full details »

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Gunplay at Fever nightclub

An incident earlier in the evening likely led to shots being fired at a bouncer at closing time outside the Fever nightclub at West Edmonton Mall.

"We've had lots of incidents in relation to nightclubs throughout the city," acting staff Sgt. Robin Plomp told the Edmonton Sun. "It's becoming all too common. Different groups are resorting to weapons more readily than in the past."

At about 3:30 a.m. on May 12th, 2007 several Fever employees were leaving the club and walking to their cars.

A man in a dark SUV then pulled up, got out and confronted them in the parking lot, according to police.

Words were exchanged and a semi-automatic handgun was produced by someone in the SUV.

Up to seven shots were fired, with two of them striking a 27-year-old doorman – one in the left hip and one in the right elbow.

The gunman then got back into the SUV and fled.

The Fever employees bundled the bleeding bouncer into a car and drove him to Misericordia hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

The gunman, who appeared to be a passenger in the SUV, was described as Oriental with tattoos on one arm and short dark spiky hair. He wore a shirt with a gold dragon on it.

The Edmonton police gang unit wasn't leading the investigation but may be contacted, Sgt. Plomp added.

It was the second incident of serious violence at the Fever nightclub this year.

On February 19th, 2007 three men were stabbed with knives while a fourth man was stabbed in the back with a broken bottle.

All four were taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Detectives cautiously reported they identified a handful of suspects but no arrests or charges have been reported in that incident.

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Suspicious death in west end

Homicide detectives investigated a suspicious death after a 911 call brought police and paramedics to a suite in a walk-up apartment building at 15628 100 Avenue at about 11:30 p.m. on May 30th, 2007.

Neighbours had heard yelling coming from the unit for about a half hour. When they got inside the apartment, emergency personnel found five people, along with a man in his late twenties suffering from at least one knife wound.

Paramedics worked on the man who had gone into cardiac cardiac arrest. He was taken to hospital where further efforts to save his life failed. His name was withheld but his age was reported as 32.

Homicide detectives were called in and the five people from the suite, including some relatives of the dead man, were taken in for questioning.

Police tried to determine if the man's knife wounds were possibly self-inflicted and first termed his death as "suspicious."

Tenants of the building said they were not used to instances of violence.

"It's usually pretty quiet," one neighbour told the Edmonton Journal. "There's a lot of families in the building."

Autopsy results released June 1st, 2007 led police to determine the man's death was non-criminal.

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POLICE LINE: DO NOT CROSS

Public alert: Rupert Ward

In the interest of public safety, the Edmonton Police Service issued a warning for a high-risk offender recently released from the Edmonton Institution.

Rupert Ward, 58, served seven years for procuring and attempting to procure for prostitution, controlling movement to compel prostitution, living on the avails of prostitution involving a person under 18 years, sexual interference, and two counts of failure to comply.

Police said Ward posed a risk of significant harm to the community.

Det. Wil Tonowski of the EPS high-risk offender unit said Ward was one of the worst kind of dangerous convicts.

“He was never granted parole because he's never shown any remorse for his crime. He still denies he did it,” Tonowski said.

According to police sources, Ward was jailed after developing a sexual relationship with a young teen girl in Calgary in 1998.

Within a few months of meeting Ward, the girl was coerced to leave her family home and began prostituting herself with Ward acting as her pimp. The young girl had no prior history of prostitution, and was coached by Ward about which sexual acts to perform.

She earned about $200 a day and Ward took the money in exchange for room, board and sex.

Rupert Ward was described as black, 6-feet, 161 lbs, with black hair and brown eyes.

Police warned anyone who encountered Ward to be extremely cautious.

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Missing: Robert (Bobby) Samuel Neale

The Edson RCMP detachment is seeking the public's help in locating a missing senior who suffers from dementia and Alzheimers.

77-year-old Robert (Bobby) Samuel Neale was last seen by his family at 6:30 p.m. May 2nd, 2007 leaving his home in the Shining Bank area on foot.

Neale is white, 5-feet 8-inches and about 170 pounds. He was seen last wearing blue coveralls, a grey jacket, a red baseball cap and rubber boots.

Neale may be confused as to his current whereabouts or destination. Edson RCMP are asking anyone who may have picked up a male matching his description to contact them at 780-723-8800, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.tipsubmit.com - a secure tip submission web site.

A missing person poster is available for download as a .pdf file.

Neale was the second man suffering from Alzheimers to be reported missing this spring.

On April 1st, 2007 Kenneth Thomas Myatt wandered away from his home in south Edmonton. He has not been found.

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Missing: Gordon John Barker

RCMP have asked for the public's help in locating a man missing from Spruce Grove.

44-year-old Gordon John Barker was last seen by his family on Tuesday, May 8th, 2007.

Police believe Barker may be driving a red 4-door 2004 Pontiac Grand Am with the Alberta license plate number EHB 696.

Barker was described as 6-feet 1-inches, 200 lbs with sandy brown hair, blue eyes, and a moustache. He also has a Tasmanian devil tattoo on his upper right arm.

Those with information about Barker are asked to contact Spruce Grove RCMP at 780-962-2222, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.tipsubmit.com - a secure tip submission web site.

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All the information presented on this page has been compiled from published media reports and should not be interpreted as having legal bearing or other prejudice against the individuals named on this web site. Some information may have been released under the authority of the FOIP Act, RSA 2000, C. F-25. and/or Section 8(2)(m) of the Federal Privacy Act.

Members of the public are advised that the intent of this web site is to enable citizens to take suitable precautionary measures and is NOT intended to encourage people to engage in any form of vigilante action. Continued investigation and review can result in additional information or clarification not disclosed to the public. Case status subject to change without notice.

deadmonton 2007 - may crime report