LAC LA BICHE - Lac La Biche RCMP are saying that a large police presence at a rural residential property just south of the Lac La Biche hamlet last Tuesday was part of a "larger and still ongoing police investigation."
RCMP vehicles and unmarked dark pickup trucks lined the ditches and driveway to the rural property along Highway 36 about two kilometres south of the Truck Route intersection. Inside the yard, obscured mostly by trees along the property line, more RCMP members and vehicles could be seen moving about. A child's playground climbing structure could also be seen on the property.
In a response to questions from the Lac La Biche POST newsroom, RCMP Const. Cassandra Calverley said the increased police presence was part of "planned operation involving the Eastern Alberta Crime Reduction Unit, the Alberta RCMP Emergency Response Team, RCMP Police Dog Services and the Lac La Biche RCMP."
Without providing specifics on the incident or the ongoing investigation, Calverley said the increased presence of officers and resources was "to ensure there was no risk to the public."
RCMP officials are expected to release more details about the investigation as they become available.
Search for suspect
Police are also continuing to search for a Lac La Biche man wanted in connection with a reported kidnapping earlier in the month.
Lloyd Wesley Boudreau, 27, is wanted on a Canada-wide arrest warrant for parole violations and a warrant in connection to a July 13 incident where a 29 year old Lac La Biche man, Levi Cardinal, was reportedly taken from a Buffalo Lake Metis Settlement home by two men and a woman. Shortly after the report came into police, two people were arrested in connection to the initial investigation. A third person — Boudreau — has yet to be located. Cardinal was located the day after the reported kidnapping, suffering only minor injuries, police said.
Boudreau is facing charges of break and enter, robbery with a firearm, assault with a weapon and forcible confinement.
The two other people arrested, LIndsay Boucher, 37 and Damion Quintal, also 37, were remanded into custody to await their upcoming first court appearances on similar charges.
According to Alberta Justice, Boudreau recently completed a four-year prison sentence on a July 2020 conviction on a charge of manslaughter using a firearm.
In October of 2017 a Lac La Biche man was shot and killed in his home after responding to a noise at his front door. Boudreau was charged with first degree murder in connection to the shooting death of 26 year old Michael Mountain. A warrant was issued for Boudreau's arrest. Police captured him more than a year later in January of 2019.
