Wanted offenders apprehended in joint enforcement operation

Lethbridge Police, in partnership with the Alberta Sheriff’s Fugitive Apprehension Sheriff Support Team (FASST), executed more than 150 outstanding warrants during a three-day joint enforcement operation targeting wanted offenders.

The project, from May 5 to 7, included members of the LPS Crime Suppression Team and FASST, and ran concurrently with an LPS targeted enforcement initiative to address crime and social disorder in the downtown core. 

The collaboration resulted in a total of:

• 151 warrants being executed (for serious offences ranging from sexual assault, assault causing bodily har, commercial break and enter and drug trafficking)
• 41 subjects arrested
• 49 criminal charges
• 60 incidents of open drug use stopped and the drugs seized for destruction
• 464 doses of fentanyl
• Multiple weapons seized
• Four shoplifters apprehended in the act (one instance resulting in the apprehension of a habitual offender and the recovery and return of nearly $600 worth of stolen jeans)
• 38 investigations which provided operational intelligence including confirmation that some fugitives had left the city, were no longer associated to certain addresses or information that will assist in future arrests

These operations highlight the importance of strong partnerships between LPS and provincial enforcement agencies. By combining resources, intelligence and expertise, police are able to more effectively locate and apprehend wanted individuals, disrupt ongoing criminal activity and reduce the risk posed to the community.

Targeted enforcement initiatives are a key part of a proactive policing strategy that focuses on known offenders, repeat criminal behaviour and areas experiencing elevated levels of crime and disorder. This approach not only leads to immediate enforcement results, but also helps prevent future offences by holding offenders accountable and gathering valuable intelligence to support ongoing investigations.