THUNDER BAY – Thunder Bay Police have made an arrest that helps RCMP in Alberta.
On June 8th, 2014 Thunder Bay Police Patrol Officers stopped a Jeep Liberty with Alberta plates at approximately 3:15 a.m. on Arthur Street for having no rear taillights. As the officers were conducted the investigation they were notified that the vehicle was flagged as “seizure” by the Alberta RCMP in conjunction with an attempted homicide investigation.
The three male occupants of the vehicle were placed under investigative detention. A search of the individuals resulted in Marijuana being located and two of the males being arrested on drug-related charges.
An initial search of the vehicle subsequent to the arrest resulted in a loaded handgun being located in the vehicle. As a result, all three males were escorted to the Balmoral Police Station to confirm identity and for processing. During this process, it was revealed that one male did not provide his real name and that two of the individuals were on weapon prohibition conditions.
While at the police station, the accused were once again searched prior to being placed in cells. This search resulted in more drugs being located on one of the males.
18-year-old Cody Ryan Degirolamo and 27-year-old Garner Roland Belcourt both from Dawson Creek, B.C. along with 34-year-old Christopher Timothy Kirkpatrick of Burnaby, B.C. have all been charged with:
– Unauthorized Possession of Prohibited/Restricted Weapon
– Possession of Prohibited or Restricted Firearm/Ammunition
– Knowledge of Unauthorized Possession of Firearm
– An occupant of Motor Vehicle knowing there was a Firearm
Kirkpatrick has also been charged with:
– Possession of a Firearm while Prohibited
– Possession of Marihuana
Belcourt is also charged with:
– Possession of a Firearm while Prohibited
– Fail to Comply with Recognizance
– Obstruct Police
– Possession of Marihuana
– Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking Marihuana
All three men appeared in court and have been remanded to the district jail. Degirolamo will make another court appearance today. Belcourt and Kirkpatrick will be in court on June 11, 2104.
Members from RCMP Calgary General Investigation Section attended to follow up the attempted murder investigation in relation to a shooting near Innisfail, Alberta on June 2, 2014. This investigation led to a fourth male being located on June 9th, 2014 in Thunder Bay. This male is also a person of interest in the attempted homicide incident. 33-year-old Aaron Mayers of Pitt Meadows, B.C. was arrested on outstanding warrants unrelated to this case. Mayers made a court appearance today and has also been remanded to the District Jail.
The vehicle that these men were operating has been seized by the Thunder Bay Police and is currently being examined by TBPS Forensic Identification Officers in conjunction with the RCMP investigators.
The investigation continues.
