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Two charged in theft of horse equipment

Two Calgarians are facing charges relating to an alleged theft of saddles and tack taken from properties near Millarville and High River – some of which were sold at an auction mart.

Two Calgarians are facing charges relating to an alleged theft of saddles and tack taken from properties near Millarville and High River – some of which were sold at an auction mart.

On June 24, the RCMP livestock section alerted the Innisfail RCMP that approximately $19,000 worth of saddles and tack sold by two individuals at the Innisfail Auction Mart could be stolen property.

The police agencies worked together to identify and arrest a Calgary man and woman, resulting in the return of some items to the owners before they were sold.

“The brand inspector, Albert Boyd, was suspicious of the behaviour of the consignor,” said Innisfail RCMP Const. Jeff Erb. “He contacted the police and we identified the items as being stolen from a break and enter in the Okotoks rural area.”

Paige Rist, 24, was charged with trafficking property obtained by crime over $5,000, four counts of failure to comply with conditions of undertaking or recognizance and possession of methamphetamine.

Dwayne Ireland, 36, was charged with trafficking property obtained by crime over $5,000, two counts of resisting/obstructing a peace officer, two counts of failure to comply with a probation order and illegal possession of a government document.

Erb said the RCMP received a report of forceful entry into a tack room at a Millarville area ranch on June 18 where about $25,000 worth of saddles and tack was stolen.

Three saddles and some tack items have been returned to their rightful owners.

An owner of the ranch said someone jimmied the door to the tack room, taking three saddles, numerous bridles and miscellaneous items, including boots and general tack.

The owner mentioned that Rist had worked at the ranch briefly in 2014.

“It’s very frustrating,” she said. “There is still about $5,000 worth of stuff missing – bridles, breast collars and miscellaneous stuff. We literally got back the three saddles and that was it.”

Erb said a saddle was also returned to someone in the High River area, who had also reported a theft.

There are items sold at the auction that haven’t been retrieved, he said.

“We are just trying to track down the rightful owners of this other stuff if we can,” he said. “If we can’t, the people who bought it at the auction will maintain it.”

Cpl. Christian Reister, with the RCMP Livestock Section, said by the time they identified the items as stolen, some had already been sold at the auction.

“There are approximately 80 brand inspectors who attend all livestock sales and inspect all of the cattle and horses - they are basically the cowboy cops,” he said. “They are usually aware of what’s going on at these sale and the undesirable people who potentially raise suspicion. They often know what questions to ask and if there is something worthy of calling the police they alert the authorities. They have the authority to hold the livestock until there was an investigation.”

Ireland remained in jail until his first appearance, scheduled at Red Deer Provincial Court July 5, and Rist was released on a court-compelling document with conditions and is scheduled to appear at Red Deer Provincial Court July 7.

Erb said Rist is wanted in Manitoba for fraud and faced charges relating to stolen property in the Okotoks area in 2016.

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