Bike Parts (Photo Credit: Lethbridge Police)

By Aaron Mahoney

Charges Laid

Two locals charged after police chase leads to suspected bike chop shop

May 29, 2019 | 2:15 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Lethbridge Police have charged a man and a woman with various property and drug offences after a foot chase in the downtown.

According to police, at 2 p.m. on May 28 a Downtown Policing officer on bike patrol saw the man who was known to police near the Coalbanks Inn.

After noticing the officer, he entered a cab and ordered the driver to drive, but when the vehicle didn’t move, he fled on foot through the Lady Luck Lounge. The man continued northbound through the alley and up the fire escape of the Coalbanks Inn to the third floor where he broke into an occupied unit, ran through it and ultimately entered a neighbouring suite.

Police knocked on the door and advised the man that he was under arrest for break and enter.

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A short time later he opened the door and police saw several high-end bicycles and bike components in various states of disassembly along with a large volume of cell phones in plain sight.

The woman who was a resident of the apartment, as well as a second man inside, were also arrested on outstanding warrants.

LPS then obtained and executed a search warrant where police recovered two high-end bikes – one that had been reported stolen back in 2017 – along with four bike frames with altered serial numbers, several bike forks, nine rims/tires and other bike components that were hidden in a false ceiling.

Bikes inside

Police also seized more than 50 cell phones that had been damaged or altered to remove the batteries, a stolen wallet, identity documents, narcotics and needles filled with methamphetamine solution.

37-year-old John Carl Michael Wipf, of Lethbridge, is charged with housebreaking and commit mischief, possession of stolen property over $5,000, possession of stolen property under $5,000, possession of a stolen credit card, three counts of possession of stolen identity documents, possession of a controlled substance and detrimental conduct in a licensed premises.

29-year-old Jade Tiffany Ann Little, also from Lethbridge, is charged with possession of stolen property over $5,000, possession of stolen property under $5,000, possession of a stolen credit card, three counts of possession of stolen identity documents and two counts of possession of a controlled substance.

Wipf was released from custody by a Justice of the Peace and is scheduled to appear in court on June 12, while Little is currently in custody awaiting a Judicial Interim Release Hearing.