Traffic stop leads to police raid on Red Deer home
Email
Print
Letter to Editor
Share
Updated: December 10, 2008 1:57 PM
RCMP stopped a speeding SUV on Hwy 2 near Olds recently and uncovered a rolling arsenal of weapons, including three automatic assault rifles.
Nine firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition were recovered from the vehicle. Three of the weapons were stolen and several were illegal and modified.
A suspect was arrested following the Dec. 2 incident and faces more than 30 weapons and drug charges.
RCMP displayed a haul of high-powered weaponry, including a pair of AK-47s and an illegal semi-automatic handgun popularized by movie superspy James Bond, at the downtown detachment at a news conference Wednesday morning.
In all, 14 weapons were seized by police, including five legally owned weapons surrendered by the suspect as a bail condition.
“This is a significant seizure, both for the City of Red Deer as well as the province of Alberta,” said RCMP Const. Sabrina Grunow.
RCMP have not determined yet if the weapons were meant for resale. “That is all certainly part of the ongoing investigation as to where these firearms were destined.”
The traffic stop happened about 4:10 p.m. when Olds and Didsbury RCMP stopped a black 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche that was being driven erratically at a high rate of speed. It was pulled over near the Olds overpass and a suspect was taken into custody.
Following the vehicle stop, RCMP obtained a search warrant for a Clearview residence. About 2:20 a.m. on Dec. 3, police raided a Cornett Drive home and arrested a 21-year-old woman. She was later released without charges.
At the residence, police seized 460 tabs of ecstasy, a small amount of cocaine, drug trafficking paraphernalia, firearm-related materials and a quantity of cash. The ecstasy is worth $4,000 to $8,000 on the street.
City RCMP, the street team and organized crime units were involved in the bust.
Ian Hunt, 23, of Red Deer, faces 28 firearms-related charges, one count of possession of the proceeds of crime, one count of possession of drugs and one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking.
Hunt was released from custody on $10,000 bail with a number of conditions. He is scheduled to appear in Red Deer provincial court on Jan. 13.
