RCMP recover $250K in stolen property–dismantle chop shop in La Corey

The Bonnyville RCMP have arrested two people in connection with a chop shop operation.

On February 24, members from the Bonnyville RCMP Detachment and the Lakeland Crime Reduction Unit (LCRU) entered into a stolen property investigation after locating a stolen Ford F350 service truck from Innisfree almost two hours away at a rural property in La Corey.

Police said upon entering onto the property, they found two suspects who were found to be in possession of the stolen vehicle.

Police said that when trying to arrest one of the suspects a fight ensued, “which led to Police deploying their conducted energy weapon (Taser).”

Both males were subsequently arrested without further incident and the property was held for a search warrant.

The next day police along with the RCMP’s K Division North Auto Theft Unit (ATU) recovered a total of nine stolen vehicles as well as an assortment of additional stolen property.

Police say they entered into a Trafficking of Property Obtained by Crime investigation after finding that several of the stolen vehicles had received fraudulent vehicle identification numbers.

Three additional stolen vehicles were eventually located and recovered as a result of the continuing investigation.

An estimated $246,188.00 in stolen property has been recovered to date as a result of this investigation.

Kyle Donovan Fletcher, 33, of Vegreville was charged with the following offences:

• Obstruction;
• Assault on Police;
• Attempt to disarm a Police Officer;
• Fail to comply with Release Order;
• Possession of property obtained by crime over $5000;
• Mischief over $5000.

Dean Peter Gamache, 31, of La Corey was charged with the following offences:

• Trafficking in property obtained by crime over $5000;
• Tampering with a vehicle identification number;
• Possession of property obtained by crime over $5000 x 12;
• Possession of property obtained by crime under $5000 x 4;
• Mischief over $5000;

Both Fletcher and Gamache were held for a bail hearing where they were remanded into police custody. They are scheduled to appear in Bonnyville Provincial Court via CCTV on April 6th, 2021.

RCMP said this matter is still under investigation and are reminding the public to be cautious when purchasing vehicles or vehicle parts through private online sales.