RCMP arrest five and seize drugs and loaded guns

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Valleyview RCMP and the Western Alberta District Rural Crime Reduction Team had a busy day on Tuesday.

On September 4, RCRU helped Valleyview RCMP with tracking down offenders with outstanding warrants in relation to a shooting incident last month on the Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation. Police were made aware of the shooting on August 14, 2018, which allegedly involved two parties shooting at each other on August 9, 2018. Several suspects were involved, and during the shooting a house and vehicle were hit by gunfire. Police say there were no injuries during the shooting.

RCMP arrested 30 year old Winona Kristen Lynn Gouchey of Valleyview on Tuesday and found a loaded long barreled rifle in the vehicle she was driving. Police also found brass knuckles in the vehicle, along with a loaded magazine Gouchey was carrying on her person. She is facing 9 weapons and firearms related charges. She was remanded into custody and appeared in Valleyview Provincial Court on September 6, 2018.

Later on, police tracked down another suspect of the shooting. RCMP pulled over a vehicle and arrested a 29 year old man named Lawrence Edward Tyson Kiyawasew of Valleyview. Along with Kiyawasew, police also arrested a 19 year old woman named Tess Courtoreille of no fixed address. Courtoreille isn’t believed to be involved with last month’s shooting, but both she and Kiyawasew are facing 18 firearms charges. Police searched the vehicle they were in and found a gun between the console and the driver seat, along with a rifle, shotgun and SKS rifle. All of the weapons were fully loaded. Courtoreille has been released on bail for a court appearance on September 20, 2018, and Kiyawasew was remanded into custody and appeared in court on September 6, 2018.

The search for more suspects continued, and eventually two men were arrested after RCMP pulled over another vehicle. Police found meth and a .22 calibre rifle in the back seat. The two men in the vehicle, 20 year old Dorian Harvey of Valleyview and 26 year old Damien Allan James Kappo of Grande Prairie are facing charges of possession of methamphetamine and unlawful possession of a firearm. Harvey was remanded into custody and appeared in court on September 6, 2018, and Kappa was released on bail for a court appearance on September 6, 2018.

Everyone arrested except for Courtoreille were arrested on outstanding charges in relation to their alleged involvement in a shooting on August 9, 2018.

“By focusing on volume crimes perpetrated by a small number of repeat offenders, RCMP will reduce the instances of crime over the long term,” says Detachment Commander of Valleyview RCMP, S/Sgt Brent Meyer. “Collaboration with enforcement partners will continue to yield positive results for the community. Getting these firearms and drugs off the streets of our community will help keep our residents safe.”

-JD