On July 10, 2024, Innisfail RCMP officers were patrolling the Town of Penhold when they noticed a red van towing a utility trailer parked behind a residence that is frequently known to participate in property crime offences. The licence plate on the trailer was noted to have been stolen out of Calgary.
Officers approached the vehicle and noted a large amount of cut cable and copper wire in the back of the trailer, along with tools that are commonly associated as break in tools. Officers contacted the three occupants of the vehicle, with the passenger providing a false identity.
The driver of the vehicle was arrested for possession of property obtained by crime. When another officer of Innisfail RCMP arrived on scene, he recognized the passenger, and quickly determined he had multiple warrants for his arrest out of multiple police jurisdictions. The passenger was also arrested.
The vehicle was searched and was found to contain numerous break in tools, including bolt cutters, pry bars, and binoculars. 6 grams of suspected fentanyl was also located in the vehicle, along with 7 grams of suspected methamphetamine. The weight of the insulated wire was 355 pounds.
Patrick Carson Raycraft, a resident of Red Deer, was charged with :
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime x2
- Possession of break in instruments
- Possession of Controlled Substance – Methamphetamine
- Possession of Controlled Substance – Fentanyl
- Possession of unstamped Tobacco
Randy Lee Soule of NFA, was charged with:
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime x2
- Possession of break in instruments
- Possession of Controlled Substance – Methamphetamine
- Possession of Controlled Substance – Fentanyl
- Excise Act - Possession of unstamped Tobacco
- Breach of Conditions x3
- Obstruction
Soule also had 13 warrants split between the location of Innisfail, Lacombe and Red Deer.
Raycraft was released roadside via an appearance notice to appear in Alberta Court of Justice in Red Deer on Aug. 27, 2024. After a Judicial Interim Release Hearing, Soule was remanded to appear in Alberta Court of Justice in Red deer on July 11, 2024.