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Suspicious death

Police investigated a suspicious death in southeast Edmonton.

Officers responding to a call reporting a sudden death found the body of a man under suspicious circumstances. Homicide detectives were then called out to investigate.

The man, who appeared to be in his late 40s or early 50s, was found in a house near 66th Street and 88th Avenue at about 8 a.m. on January 4th, 2008.

Investigators spent most of the day at the house and the body was removed late in the afternoon.

A police spokesman said the involvement of homicide detectives is standard procedure in cases when a cause of death isn't easily established at the scene.

Results of an autopsy to determine the man's exact cause of death were not released and the matter was thought to be turned over to the medical examiner's office. A homicide detective confided to one media outlet the man's death was likely non-criminal.

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Human remains found at LRT site

Construction on the southern leg of Edmonton's Light Rail Transit system came to a halt on January 4th, 2008 when human remains were discovered by workers installing a sewer line.

Excavation was taking place near 43rd Avenue and 111th Street when parts of a decayed wooden box were unearthed about five feet below the surface. Inside the box were human bones » full details »

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Sandra Nipshank

The body of 44-year-old Sandra Nipshank was found Tuesday, January 8th 2008 lightly-clothed and frozen on a north-end townhouse walkway near 150th Avenue and 118th Street.

While the medical examiner's office ruled her death as non-criminal, Nipshank's family has questions about what led to the woman's death » full details »

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Beaten man in critical condition

Police investigated a serious assault in the downtown area that left a man fighting for his life.

The attack took place during the evening of January 8th, 2008 near the Greyhound bus depot at 103rd Avenue and 103rd Street. The man, believed to be in his 40s, was found unconscious shortly before 8:30 p.m.

After an assessment at the Royal Alexandra trauma centre, the man was transferred to the neurological intensive care unit at the University of Alberta Hospital. Reports have varied regarding his condition, ranging from serious but stable to critical.

The assault victim, 46-year-old James Mills, died January 19th, 2008. Police upgraded the incident to a homicide – Edmonton's second of the year » full details »

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Vacant suite holds unpleasant surprise

Police were called to an apartment building near 118th Avenue and 105th Street around 1:22 p.m. on January 15th, 2008. Inside a vacant suite they found what they thought was a woman sleeping on the floor.

"On further investigation they discovered she was dead," a police spokeswoman said.

As the circumstances seemed unusual homicide detectives were called in. An autopsy was scheduled to help police confirm the death was non-criminal.

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Bullet served up at Joey Tomato's

Police responded January 16th, 2008 to reports of a shot fired at a popular downtown restaurant.

At about 1:00 a.m. fifteen people in two groups were involved in a disturbance inside Joey Tomato's at 11228 Jasper Avenue. The restaurant's manager and an off-duty cook decided to step in and a hand gun went off striking one man in the leg » full details »

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Man answers door but not police questions

At about 11:30 p.m. on January 16th, 2008 a man living in a townhouse in the 300-block of Abbotsfield Road heard a knock on his door. Within minutes he also heard the blast of a shotgun.

When the man in his thirties opened his door he was met by a man ten years younger. Words were exchanged and the older man was shot in the leg.

The shooter fled to a waiting getaway car. The man in the townhouse was transported to the Royal Alexandra Trauma Centre where he was listed in serious condition with a non life-threatening wound.

Police said the man was lucky – the shotgun pellets did a lot of damage – but the victim didn't take the opportunity of his second chance at life by telling investigators what happened.

But officers had a pretty good idea of what went down at the residence as they had been there a few times before. Which is why the Gang Unit was called in to help track down a young man, aged 17 to 20 with a thin build, dark complexion and average height, wearing a blue jacket with a white collar and toque.

Those with information about the matter 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.

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Maurice Powder

On January 20th, 2008 police were called to the Rosslyn area in north Edmonton after the discovery of a frozen body was reported to 911. Police indicated that 43-year-old Maurice Powder was homeless and his death didn't appear to be suspicious in nature. Ironically, Powder's brother David also died on the streets.

That a homeless person died so far from the downtown core became the focus of media and those working with the city's transient population. 44 persons without permanent residence died on city streets in 2007, a number that was expected to continue to rise » full details »

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The shooting of Omar Househ

Homicide detectives and the gang unit were busy working what might have become Edmonton's fourth homicide of the year – the third in less than a week – while media identified the victim as a participant in a previous unsolved murder.

At about 6:00 p.m. January 24th, 2008 emergency services were called to a home at 13564 158 Avenue after an injured man called 911 saying he had been shot answering a knock at his front door.

Media later identified the man as Omar Househ – one of two people charged in connection with the 2007 murder of Ola Moses in the Urban Stylez hip-hop clothing store » full details »

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POLICE LINE: DO NOT CROSS

Wanted: Bernard Paul Hoffman

36-year-old Bernard Paul Hoffman is wanted on 20 outstanding arrest warrants, including an Alberta-wide warrant for breaching probation.

Hoffman, born August 5, 1971, was described as white, 6-feet 1-inch, 216 lbs with brown hair and brown eyes.

Police would like to talk to Hoffman in connection with a recent stolen property investigation.

A larger image of Hoffman can be seen here.

Those with information about Bernard Paul Hoffman 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.

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Wanted: James Aaron Peckham

Police are looking for a man who earned a statutory release to the Stan Daniels Healing Centre but failed to return after he was given a pass on December 30th, 2007.

James Aaron Peckham, 41 (born April 19, 1966) was serving 15 years and five months for assault causing bodily harm, possession of a firearm while prohibited, possession of an unrestricted weapon, assaulting a peace officer and trafficking at the Drumheller Institution.

Peckham, who has used the name "Randall Smith" in the past, is known to frequent casinos.

He was described as white, 6-feet 1-inch, 163 lbs with brown eyes, short red hair and numerous tattoos including on his right arm a woman, a dragon and various other designs; on his left arm a naked lady, a skull and various other designs; on his chest a lady's face; on his upper torso a bat wing design and creature; and on his left shoulder a skull with a spider web.

A larger image of Peckham can be seen here.

Those with information about James Aaron Peckham 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.

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Wanted: Matthew Doonanco

Within a day of Edmonton police releasing surveillance images of a suspect wanted in connection with a bank robbery, tips lead detectives to identify him as 26-year-old Matthew Doonanco.

Doonaco was described as 5-feet 8-inches, approximately 175-185 lbs with brown hair and a brown goatee. Investigators considered him to be armed and dangerous.

On December 22nd, 2007 a man waited in line at the teller window of a north Edmonton Servus Credit Union. He passed a note to the bank employee which indicated he had a handgun.

After he demanded the teller give an unspecified amount of cash he got the money left the area on foot. At the time of the robbery the suspect was wearing a grey and black hoodie along a black ball cap.

Update: while investigators had encouraged Doonaco to turn himself in, it was sharp-eyed patrol officers who got the man behind bars first.

On January 18th a police tactical unit tracked him and spotted him getting into a car with another man. Both were taken into custody.

Doonaco was charged with robbery. His associate, 40-year-old Lorne Colbourne, was charged with possession of a controlled substance.

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Wanted: Michael Peter Willis

On January 21st, 2008 police issued a warrant for the arrest of a suspect wanted in connection with the shooting at the downtown Joey Tomato's restaurant on January 16th.

Police are looking for Michael Peter Willis, 27, of no fixed address.

He was described as approximately six feet tall, 196 lbs with brown hair and blue eyes.

Investigators think Willis may be driving a 2004 two-door silver BMW with Alberta license plate BYY-182, similar to the one pictured.

Police consider Willis to be armed and dangerous and they advise the public not to approach or try to apprehend him.

A larger image of Willis can be seen here.

Update: On January 22nd, Willis turned himself in at the downtown police headquarters. He was accompanied by a lawyer.

There was no word on charges laid.

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Missing: Cory David Bannerman

Edmonton police asked for the public's help in locating a 37-year-old who suffers from mental illness.

Cory David Bannerman was last seen November 26th, 2007 at his home near 17th Avenue and 53rd Street. While Bannerman has a history of disappearing, he usually returns within a few weeks.

But given the length of time Bannerman has been without medication, the Missing Persons Unit decided make public their appeal.

Bannerman was described as 5-feet 11-inches, 166 lbs with blue eyes and blonde hair. Larger images of the man can be seen here and here.

Investigators believed he may have hitched a ride out of the Edmonton area.

Those with information about Cory David Bannerman were asked to contact Edmonton police at 423-4567.

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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 2008 - january crime report