LAKELAND - RCMP from several detachments in eastern and northeastern Alberta worked together to stop a suspected stolen motor home last Wednesday, arresting a 25-year-old Heinsburg man that police claim is a prolific repeat offender.
The investigation has also located a unique firefighting vehicle reportedly stolen on Feb. 23 from the Islay Fire Hall near Kitscoty.
Kitscoty RCMP say on Feb. 26, officers responded to a complaint of a break in at a business along the community's "Auto Road." The initial investigation found that sometime over the previous two days, a 2024 Ambassador Motorhome had been taken from the property. The vehicle carries a value of $220,000.
The following day, RCMP say the vehicle was spotted on roadways between Vermilion and Lloydminster. RCMP vehicles tried several times to pull the vehicle over, but say the vehicle continued to avoid them. Later that day, reports were made that the RV was in the Mannville area.
On Feb. 27, the motorhome was observed driving between Vermilion, Kitscoty and Lloydminster. Police attempted to pull over the motorhome on multiple occasions, but were unsuccessful as it failed to stop and continued driving to avoid police apprehension.
Vermillion RCMP, the Lloydminster General Investigations Section, Lloydminster Police Dog Services, the Eastern Alberta District Crime Reduction Unit and Lloydminster, Kitscoty and Vermilion RCMP located the vehicle and arrested a man they say was the driver.
Baily Devon Paranteau, 25, resident of Heinsburg, has been charged with flight from police, possession of stolen property over $5,000, and three counts of failing to comply with court orders.
Further charges and a fire truck
At the time of his arrest, Paranteau was also charged with multiple Criminal Code offences out of Lloydminster for failing to comply, possession of stolen property over $5,000 and flight from peace officer. Those offences occurred between Feb. 22 and Feb. 28 in the Lloydminster area.
Paranteau has also been charged with multiple Criminal Code offences out of the Kitscoty area in relation to a break and enter to the Islay Fire Hall and the theft of wildland fire rescue truck. The truck has since been recovered and returned to the Fire Hall.
A Judicial Interim release hearing was held for Parenteau where he was remanded in custody. He is to appear on March 4 at the Alberta Court of Justice in Vermillion.
“Offenders such as these cause repeated harm to the rural communities across Alberta, tie-up significant police resources and repeatedly victimizing the public,” said Sgt. Corey Buckingham, the Commanding Officer of the Vermilion RCMP Detachment. “Great work to the multiple detachments and sections that aided in the arrest of this offender.”
