A resident of Wheatland County and two Calgarians have been arrested in connection to copper wire theft.

At 9:30 a.m. on Jan 28, Brooks RCMP notified Drumheller RCMP of a suspect pickup truck, traveling north on Highway 36 from the Emerson Bridge area near Duchess; the occupants of the vehicle were believed to be responsible for the theft of copper wire from oil sites.

At 11:00 a.m. a member of the Drumheller Rural Traffic Unit saw the truck and conducted a traffic stop. 

Three people were arrested and taken into custody. 

The vehicle was searched and found to contain large amounts of copper wire and contraband cigarettes.

56-year-old Domingos Dacunha, a resident of Wheatland County along with 43-year-old Matthew Johnson and 42-year-old Melanie Jones both residents of Calgary have been charged with the following:

  • Possession of Property Obtained by Crime less than $5000.
  • Possession of contraband cigarettes.

Johnson was further charged with:

  • Possession of Property Obtained by Crime less than $5000.
  • Obstruction of a Peace Officer.

Jones and Dacunha were released from custody on Undertakings and are to appear in the Alberta Court of Justice in Drumheller on Mar. 22.

Johnson was also found to be on six outstanding arrest warrants. He was taken before a Justice and remanded into custody. 

Johnson’s next court appearance is set for Feb. 1, at the Siksika court.

Brooks RCMP continues to investigate the break-ins and thefts.

"Effective communication and teamwork between Drumheller and Brooks RCMP led to the successful apprehension of these copper thieves. Copper wire theft is a serious issue both in the loss of the wire, and damages to property and poses serious safety risks," says staff Sergeant Robert Harms of the Drumheller RCMP. 

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