Curfew working
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RCMP photo of drugs and weapons seized at Hobbema.
A curfew for youths to put a lid on gang activity at Hobbema is working, says a Hobbema RCMP officer.
“With regard to serious incidents, it has reduced significantly,” Cpl. Darrel Bruno said Wednesday.
“A lot of people have been keeping off the streets for the most part, and the ones that aren’t have good excuses for being on the street.”
Youths, ages 12 to 17, who break the curfew face fines or jail time. It applies to both residents and non-residents.
Only warnings have been given out since the 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew was put in place after a drive-by shooting of 23-month old Asia Saddleback on April 13.
She has since been released from hospital. An 18-year-old and a 15-year-old, both male, were charged in the shooting.
The shooting was the 12th gun-related incident within a three-week span in the community of about 12,000 people.
Since then, RCMP have stepped up patrols on the four reserves in the Hobbema area where 13 gangs are believed involved in the drug trade.
First Nations leaders, police and community residents have formed a task force to come up with a plan to thwart the gangs.
Bruno said residents are stepping up and getting involved in the fight against crime.
“We definitely have an increase in information from community members, which has driven up our calls, which is positive. As a result, we recovered some major weapons here.”
On Tuesday, police seized four firearms, including an SKS assault rifle with 20 rounds of ammunition, a 40-calibre semi-automatic handgun, and a .243 hunting rifle and ammunition at a Samson First Nation residence.
Police also found 10.3 grams of crack cocaine.
The SKS rifle was stolen from Richmond, B.C. The handgun was stolen from Edmonton.
During the month of April, Hobbema RCMP laid 63 Criminal Code charges and seven people were charged with impaired driving.
Contact Susan Zielinski at szielinski@reddeeradvocate.com
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