June 10, 2013
SCAN seeking revised order after owner charged before the closure date
Grande Prairie…A problem home in Grande Prairie was ordered closed and vacated for six weeks following an investigation by ALERT’s Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods (SCAN) unit.
SCAN began investigating 12613 105 Street in late October 2012 after the unit received public complaints about criminal activity, including drug trafficking, at the property. After informal efforts to resolve the concerns were unsuccessful, SCAN obtained a Community Safety Order (CSO) on June 3.
Before the closure came into effect, SCAN obtained new information that led ALERT’s Grande Prairie Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU) to arrest and charge the property owner, 42-year-old Timothy John FERGUSON, on June 5. FERGUSON is charged with one count of possession of a stolen credit card, two counts of possession of property obtained by crime, and 10 counts of use of a stolen credit card.
Also charged is 36-year-old Grande Prairie resident Curtis Donald SALE. He faces two counts of possession of property obtained by crime, and 10 counts of use of a stolen credit card.
While SALE was released on bail, FERGUSON was held in custody until his next court appearance on June 10 in Grande Prairie. This investigation is ongoing, and further charges may be laid.
As a result of these recent developments, SCAN is proceeding with an application to the court to extend the closure to 90 days. As this process is expected to take a few weeks, SCAN has shut down the property in accordance with the existing CSO.
During the current six-week closure period, the owner must vacate the house and the property will be secured, including the installation of a fence around the perimeter. On July 23, the owner can return to the property, but no one else can enter or occupy the property without SCAN’s advanced written consent until September 2.
After September 2, the CSO will remain in effect until April 2014, during which time the owner must receive approval from the SCAN unit before renting out any room in the property to a tenant. The prospective tenant must complete a written application, provide references, and enter into a written tenancy agreement.
Throughout the investigation, SCAN members worked closely with the Grande Prairie RCMP and CFSEU-Grande Prairie. This property has presented an ongoing problem for police, with over 43 calls for service between February 2011 and April 2013.
FERGUSON was also charged as part of a CFSEU-Grande Prairie investigation in August of 2012, with his next court appearance on those charges scheduled for September 2013. In that instance, he faces three counts of possession of stolen property over $5,000 and one count of possession of stolen credit cards.
While police deal with criminal complaints against people, SCAN investigators use civil legislation to target problem properties around the province used for illegal purposes such as prostitution, drug use and trafficking, and gang activity. SCAN conducts investigations into residences and commercial properties in both urban and rural areas.
Between April 1, 2012 and March 31, 2013, the public submitted 305 complaints regarding problem properties province-wide, of which SCAN resolved 268. This includes seven CSOs levied against problem properties.
Albertans who suspect illegal activity is occurring at a property in their neighbourhood can contact SCAN online at www.alert-ab.ca/scan or toll-free at 1-866-960-SCAN (7226). All complaints are confidential. Residents are reminded never to investigate suspected problem properties on their own.
Made up of Alberta Sheriffs, SCAN is an ALERT team established and funded by the Government of Alberta to bring together the province’s most sophisticated law enforcement resources to tackle serious and organized crime. Over 400 municipal police, RCMP and sheriffs work for ALERT.
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Media inquiries may be directed to:
Karleen Schenkey
SCAN North Investigator
Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT)
780-699-8767
Jill Baird
Communications
Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT)
780-509-3028
The work we do is about our communities, and that’s why we recognize that residents can be instrumental in tackling serious crime. If you or someone you know has been the victim of a crime, or you suspect criminal activity, please reach out. Your information will remain strictly confidential.
Thank you for helping to make Alberta safer by being actively involved and reporting suspicious activity.
Since 2022, CISA has been guided by four pillars that focus the effort to promote an integrated, intelligence-led approach to combating organized crime; these are:
Criminal Intelligence Service Alberta (CISA) has recently developed an Alberta Firearms Intelligence Centre (AFIC) to equitably expand access to firearms intelligence for all law enforcement agencies within Alberta. AFIC will provide timely, accurate, and actionable intelligence to law enforcement agencies and policy-makers to achieve the shared and collaborative goals of increasing public safety concerning firearm-related crimes.
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
2023-24
2022-23
2021-22
FILE INTAKES
680
872
1,149
1,114
3,815
2,994
2,764
SUSPECTS CHARGED
22
16
34
37
109
81
125
CHARGES LAID
87
45
123
160
415
351
413
CHILDREN RESCUED
26
78
56
43
203
46
100
EXHIBITS SEIZED
335
368
545
476
1,724
1,243
1,845
TOTAL PHOTOS/VIDEOS
262,400
511,133
1,374,310
606,254
2,754,097
2,551,921
13,260,819
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
2023-24
2022-23
2021-22
SUSPECTS CHARGED
13
10
7
4
34
30
76
CHARGES LAID
79
46
87
19
231
96
157
VICTIM INTERVENTIONS
30
29
17
37
113
28
22
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
2023-24
2022-23
2021-22
INTELLIGENCE REPORTS
409
296
327
442
1,474
1,560
1,318
TRAINING COURSES
5
3
8
11
27
36
25
CANDIDATES TRAINED
321
56
135
350
862
933
638
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
2023-24
2022-23
2021-22
SUSPECTS CHARGED
40
27
42
32
141
197
168
CHARGES LAID
176
156
237
231
800
1,088
820
FIREARMS SEIZED
105
53
26
48
232
102
126
EST. VALUE OF DRUGS SEIZED
$906,814
$553,851
$2,725,161
$1,148,337
$5,334,163
$10,898,269
$334,093,020
PROCEEDS OF CRIME SEIZED
$218,133
$52,970
$130,996
$230,195
$632,294
$1,432,847
$21,740,617
ARRESTS
CHARGES
FIREARMS
DRUGS
PROCEEDS
CALGARY
24
110
14
$937,422
$65,881
EDMONTON
17
131
45
$592,839
$272,446
FORT MCMURRAY
8
78
4
$352,942
$144,301
GRANDE PRAIRIE
7
17
13
$192,145
$31,855
LETHBRIDGE
7
29
44
$349,773
$51,245
LLOYDMINSTER
24
93
41
$164,134
$12,504
MEDICINE HAT
37
179
13
$293,108
$7,861
RED DEER
17
163
58
$2,451,800
$46,201
TOTALS
141
800
232
$5,334,163
$632,294
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
2023-24
2022-23
2021-22
SUSPECTS CHARGED
1
–
1
–
2
1
10
CHARGES LAID
–
–
–
–
–
11
47
STOLEN VEHICLES
23
15
1
6
45
245
118
RECOVERED ASSETS
$1,432,000
$941,025
$108,000
$260,000
$2,741025
$8,420,500
$3,919,500
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
2023-24
2022-23
2021-22
FIREARMS EXAMINATIONS
349
351
243
235
1,178
–
–
EXHIBIT EXAMINATIONS
1,316
1,409
891
1,099
4,715
–
–
SERIAL NUMBER RESTORATIONS
31
34
19
24
108
–
–
IBIS SUBMISSIONS
343
421
1,334
304
2,402
–
–
GUN SEIZURES
–
–
1
14
15
–
–
SUSPECTS CHARGED
–
–
4
22
26
–
–
CHARGES LAID
–
–
41
144
185
–
–
Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) involves images and/or videos that depict the sexual abuse of minors – the majority of which involve prepubescent children. Often, CSAM involves explicit and/or extreme sexual assaults against the child victim (Cybertip.ca).
Learn more about Internet Child Exploitation and ALERT’s integrated teams combatting this issue.
Ghost Guns are illegal, privately manufactured firearms or lower receivers. These weapons are often made with 3D-printers, and undermine public safety due to their lack of licensing requirements, serialization and safety controls.
Learn more about Ghost Guns on ALERT’s dedicated Privately Manufactured Firearms info page
