Bashaw RCMP were on high alert after reports of a man carjacking a vehicle last week.
The call came in later in the day of Nov. 6 that a Caucasian man, later identified as Michael Richter, was dressed in camouflaged clothing and allegedly carjacked a vehicle in the Blackfalds area. It appears he was in one vehicle, which struck the victim’s then demanded the person give up the vehicle.
Reports say that the man was in a badly damaged vehicle headed north on Range Road 243 from Highway 53 where he left the vehicle abandoned and running on an oil lease site.
It was indicated to Mounties that a long gun was in the suspect’s vehicle but that has not been confirmed, however Richter faces charges of possession of a firearm. The vehicle was said to have flat tires and severe damage to it as a result of the carjacking.
The vehicle was found abandoned at a well site but crews did not access the vehicle until it was safe to do so.
At 5:10 p.m., an extensive amount of RCMP members from Ponoka, Blackfalds, Maskwacis and Bashaw Detachments as well as support units; Red Deer and Wetaskiwin Police Dog Services, GIS and Ponoka Integrated Traffic Unit established containment around the oilfield lease site.
The RCMP helicopter was deployed as well as the Emergency Response Team (ERT). It was later determined that prior to this containment – the suspect managed to flee from the property on a snowmobile.
About a three mile radius was blocked from public access by RCMP and traffic was diverted to the various range roads and township roads around the location.
Two days later, the RCMP issued an arrest warrant for Richter. He faced six criminal code offenses connected with the incident including robbery, failing to remain at the scene of an accident, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, unauthorized possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle and disobeying an order of court.
That same day police say Richter was located without incident.
Richter had court appearances via CCTV for Ponoka and Red Deer Nov. 10. He is set to re-appear in Ponoka court Dec. 1. Bashaw Star was unable to get confirmation of the Red Deer court dates.