The Rocky Mountain House RCMP have charged a 51-year old male in connection to the shelter in place incident over the long weekend.

RCMP say on September 4, 2023, at 9:31 a.m., they received a report of a male who broke into a gun cabinet and stole a firearm as well as ammunition at the Canadian Tire Store in Rock Mountain House.

According to RCMP, the suspect began pointing the firearm at employees before running out the door. Once outside, the suspect was observed by responding officers running into a wooded area.

RCMP issued a Police Initiated Public Alert to area residents and secured the area. With the use of a drone, RCMP were able to locate the suspect who was taken into custody. The firearm was later located in the wooded area with the assistance of an RCMP dog.

RCMP have charged 51-year-old Rocky Mountain House resident, Dwight Stanley Smith, with:

• Firearms offences (x7)
• Theft of firearm
• Assault with a weapon (x2)
• Fail to comply with probation order (x3)
• Mischief

Mounties say Smith has been taken before a Justice of the Peace and remanded into custody with his next court date set for Sept. 6, 2023, at the Alberta Court of Justice in Rocky Mountain House.