Officer on scene of a residence along 43 Street South (Lethbridge News Now)

By Justin Goulet and Lara Fominoff

LPS executes search warrant at south side residence

Oct 17, 2019 | 9:57 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – UPDATE 2:30 p.m. – Lethbridge Police are releasing more information about a search warrant executed at a home in the Six Mile Coulee area of the city early this morning.

Police say they responded to a report of a 28-year-old in a room at the Superlodge Hotel along 7 Ave. S. Wednesday evening. The victim reported that two men, one armed with a handgun, entered his room and demanded money and property. A wallet, cell phone, clothes and vaping products were taken.

The suspect vehicle was then located later that night at the home in the Six Mile Coulee area, but left and was followed to Exhibition Park. That’s where police arrested two men and three women and recovered the stolen items.

A search warrant was then executed on the house around 2 a.m., which included members of the Lethbridge Criminal Incident Team, because of the potential for the presence of weapons. Two women were taken into custody – one was later released. Police say the investigation is ongoing. No names have yet been released. It’s believed the incident was targetted, and that the parties were known to one another.

UPDATE 11 a.m. – Several people are in custody and may be facing charges, after Lethbridge Police say they responded to a “personal robbery” at a local motel around 7 p.m. Wednesday evening (Oct.16).

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Domestic and Violent Crimes Unit Sgt. Saska Vanhala says information from that incident led them to execute a search warrant at a home in the area of 40 Ave. S. and 43 St. S.

The home is in stark contrast to others in the immediate area, because of the state of disrepair it’s in – on the outside at least.

The half acre or so sized lot is littered with a variety of debris, vehicle parts, mud, dead weeds and grass.

A neighbor who does not wish to be identified, but who lives directly behind the home, says police came knocking at his door around 2 a.m.

“I yelled, ‘who is out there?’ And then I see the police and I said sorry please, I didn’t know you were a cop. And she said I shouldn’t panic that they have a search warrant for people living behind us; that they are going to search, and if we hear a gun shot, we shouldn’t panic. I said ok, thank you very much.”

Sgt. Vanhala confirmed that some tactical measures were used that damaged the home. Three holes appear in two windows – two in the front of the home, and one where it appears the kitchen or eating nook may be located.

The resident says he’s lived in the area for about five years, and when he moved in – in his experience – there was no issue with the home in question. He says he was told by a developer the home was going to be levelled. However, according to others LNN has spoken with who have direct knowledge of the home, it appears that at least two new tenants moved in earlier this year.

Although the man doesn’t know who is responsible for localized break and enters, he says the number of vehicle break-ins and other thefts have been a big issue in the area recently. Vanhala acknowledges there is a lot of traffic going in and out of the home.

“I have reported (the break-ins) to police,” said the resident. “The police retrieved from I don’t know where, my license and my car insurance. They stole my GPS… police asked, ‘did I lose any money’ and I said no. I didn’t even know my GPS was stolen until one day when I went to use it and I searched everywhere and I couldn’t find it. They have broken into my car four times. I park in the garage now.”

There is no information about possible charges at this point.

Lethbridge Police are on scene at a south side home this morning.

Not too many details are known at this time. Shortly after 6:00 a.m., LPS said they were at a home along the 4000 block of 43 Street South executing a search warrant.

Residents were advised that there was no threat to the public, but people were asked to stay away from the area.

Some say they heard loud gunshots shortly after 6:00 a.m., while two people on scene told LNN that they heard a couple of “loud bangs”.

Right before 9:00 a.m., police said they were still on scene and the residence had been secured. The public was advised that they could resume normal use of the area as the investigation continued.

No other details have been released at this time.

An LNN reporter on scene has witnessed holes in the windows of the home, with multiple officers inside.

The following are photos from the area, captured by Lethbridge News Now.

Police are on scene at a residence along 43 Street South (Lethbridge News Now)

The backyard of the residence (Lethbridge News Now)

A hole is visible through one of the building’s windows (Lethbridge News Now)