Grande Prairie Armed Robbery Suspect Arrested

Grande Prairie… A Grande Prairie man suspected of armed robbery and drug trafficking offenses has been arrested following a joint investigation between Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT) and RCMP Grande Prairie.

ALERT Grande Prairie arrested Lahi Ismail Abdi, 23, following reports of his involvement in an armed robbery and a separate drug trafficking investigation. Adbi was arrested on July 29, followed by a search warrant being executed at his residence where drugs were seized.

The armed robbery occurred on the evening of July 25, when a Grande Prairie man reported to police that he was robbed at gunpoint and assaulted while walking to his vehicle. The man had cash and jewelry stolen, and was struck in the side of the head with a handgun.

Investigators following several leads were able to identify a suspect, who was also a person of interest in a separate ALERT drug trafficking investigation. Four days later, on July 29, Abdi was arrested at his residence in the 7400-block of Westpointe Drive.

A search of Abdi’s home yielded evidence to suggest drug trafficking. ALERT seized 35 individual bags of cocaine totaling 25 grams, a scale with white powder residue, packaging materials, ammunition, and $2,980 in cash proceeds of crime. A 23-year-old woman, Victoria Rivera Nordhagen, who was at the home at the time of the search, has also been charged with drug-related offences.

The handgun was not recovered in the search, and police are still looking for information concerning its whereabouts. Anyone with information about this crime can contact RCMP Grande Prairie at 780-830-5701, or remain anonymous with Crime Stoppers at: 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

Abdi is facing a dozen criminal charges, including:

• robbery using a firearm;
• assault with a weapon;
• uttering threats;
• pointing a firearm;
• carry a weapon dangerous to public;
• use of a firearm during indictable offence;
• careless use of a firearm;
• unauthorized possession of a firearm;
• possession of a firearm contrary to prohibition order;
• possession for the purpose of trafficking;
• possession of proceeds of crime;
• possession of a controlled substance.

ALERT was established and is funded by the Alberta Government and is a compilation of the province’s most sophisticated law enforcement resources committed to tackling serious and organized crime. Members of Alberta Sheriffs, Calgary Police Service, Edmonton Police Service, Lethbridge Regional Police Service, Medicine Hat Police Service, and RCMP work in ALERT.

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