last link on the left › deadmonton

Generic crime photo

Man nearly beaten to death

Police continue to investigate what might have become Edmonton's 21st homicide of 2007.

A 44-year-old man ended up in critical but stable condition at the University of Alberta Hospital after being beaten while coming to the aid of a friend.

The man and his friend were outside Honest Mur's Bar & Grill at 8937 82 Avenue around 11:45 p.m. on August 12th, 2007 when words were exchanged with a group of men.

The friend was knocked to the ground with a punch, and when the man came in to break up the fight he was attacked by a couple of the men and beaten unconscious. The 44-year-old man suffered severe head trauma after he was kicked in the head.

At the time, police said the next 24 to 48 hours would determine whether the man survives his attack. The person originally assaulted received only minor cuts.

In the absence of media reports to the contrary, the man was assumed to have survived his injuries.

A search for suspects continues but authorities said they didn't have much to go on. It was thought the two assailants fled in a car.

Those with information about the beating were are asked to contact Edmonton police at 423-4567, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.tipsubmit.com - a secure tip submission web site.

back to index

Dramatic fall spawns dramatic escort

A 9 metre fall off a community league building sent a seven-year-old boy to hospital. But what seemed to make the news was a dramatic high-speed police ambulance escort.

Global Edmonton repeatedly aired footage of a not uncommon but rarely caught on camera sight: six police cars and a patrol officer clearing the way for the ambulance en route to hospital.

Global made the most of their video, even later interviewing an Edmonton police spokesman to justify additional airings of the footage » full details »

back to index

Booklover found dead again?

Readers of the Edmonton Sun's August 31st, 2007 online edition were startled when a story appeared that seemed to indicate a man had died a second time at the same house.

The Sun did not re-print the story online on September 1st, nor did it appear in their home delivery edition of the same day. The story was also not reported by other media outlets.

The Last Link is still awaiting email response from the Sun to clarify the story that eerily echoed another suspicious death in the same house six months before » full details »

back to index

POLICE LINE: DO NOT CROSS

Missing: Jessy Alain Lessard

The Edmonton Police Service issued a public appeal for help to locate a 29-year-old man who is well known in sports circles.

Jessy Alain Lessard went missing June 13th, 2007 from the area of 137th Avenue and 127th Street. He was described as 6-feet, approximately 170 lbs, with short black hair, brown eyes, glasses and a thin moustache.

Lessard is involved in the Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) and regularly competes professionally, ranked as a middleweight fighter. He is in excellent physical condition and has no health issues. He is known to hang out in coffee shops on Whyte Avenue.

Since he went missing, Lessard has not contacted friends or relatives who said it was very unusual for him to be gone for this length of time without anyone knowing.

"We're at a loss," said a police spokesman who also noted foul play was not suspected. "There's nothing to suggest at this time that there's anything criminal in nature."

While at first police did not consider Lessard's disappearance to be suspicious, all that changed on August 25th, 2007 when the Edmonton Sun reported the martial arts athlete had been placed on a Project KARE bulletin » full details »

Those with information about Jessy Alain Lessard were asked to contact Edmonton police at 423-4567, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.tipsubmit.com - a secure tip submission web site.

back to index

Wanted: Willie Gilbert Badger

Willie Gilbert Badger was serving a two-year sentence for break and enter and earned his statutory release on August 16th, 2007. He was to reside at the Stan Daniels Healing Centre and abstain from the use of drugs and alcohol.

After twelve days Badger breached conditions of his release and a Canada-wide arrest warrant was issued for his arrest on August 28th.

Badger has an extensive criminal record that dates back to 1989 with 41 criminal convictions, including crimes of violence, sexual assault, driving offences, escape, obstruction, property related crimes and trafficking in a narcotic.

38-year-old Badger (born May 20th, 1969) was described as aboriginal, 6-feet 3-inches, 185 lbs with black hair and brown eyes. He has tattoos on his upper right arm and abdomen.

A larger image of Badger can be seen here and police believe Badger would likely be found in the Edmonton and St. Paul areas due to family and contacts.

Those with information about Willie Gilbert Badger were asked to contact Edmonton police at 423-4567, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.tipsubmit.com - a secure tip submission web site.

back to index

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 - august crime report