Two men have been charged following a home invasion and theft of firearms from a Chestermere home the morning of Oct. 27.
Chestermere RCMP were dispatched at about 7:45 a.m. to a report of a home invasion in the 100 block of East Chestermere Drive.
A male had entered a residence in an attempt to steal firearms.
While inside, the offender was confronted by an occupant of the home. A struggle ensued and a firearm was discharged as a result of the struggle.
Police said that the offender then fled the home, with four stolen firearms, to a waiting vehicle occupied by an accomplice.
Chestermere RCMP Detachment Commander Staff Sergeant Mark Wielgosz said in a press release that, “through the investigation, Chestermere RCMP were able to identify both offenders who were believed to reside in Calgary.”
Chestermere RCMP with the assistance of Calgary Police Service (CPS) where able to locate and arrest one of the offenders in Calgary on Oct. 28.
Later in the evening of Oct. 28, RCMP obtained a search warrant for a Calgary residence.
Chestermere RCMP in conjunction with CPS executed the search warrant and located the second offender who was arrested.
One of the firearms was also recovered during the search.
“Through a collaborative effort with Calgary Police Service we were able to quickly apprehend these individuals and remove a firearm from our streets,” said Wielgosz in a statement released Oct. 30.
As a result of the investigation, two Calgary men have been charged.
Twenty-year-old Zachary Haines-Matthews is facing nine charges including:
•Break and Enter with Intent to Steal a Firearm.
•Theft Under $5000. (Four counts)
•Possession of a Firearm in a Vehicle. (Four counts)
Haines-Matthews has been released on a $1000 cash bail and conditions. He is scheduled to appear in Strathmore Provincial Court on Nov. 26.
Twenty one-year-old Timothy Taylor is facing 31 charges including:
•Break and Enter with Intent to Steal a Firearm.
•Use Firearm in the Commission of an Offence.
•Assault with a Weapon.
•Theft Under $5000. (Four counts)
•Possession of a Restricted Firearm with Ammunition.
•Possession of a Firearm Obtained by Crime.
•Trafficking Firearms. (Three counts)
Taylor remains in custody and will appear in Strathmore Provincial Court on Nov. 2.
RCMP said that additional charges may be laid pending further investigation of the case.
Despite the involvement of firearms, Wielgosz said that there is no threat to the public.
“While this was a targeted incident and our residents did not face an immediate threat, crimes such as this have no place in Chestermere,” he said.
