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Vol. 66, No. 52 | WEDNESDAY, DEC. 24, 2014 | 403-783-3311 | EDITORIAL@PONOKANEWS.COM
Stampeders play with passion but lose again Story on page 15
Abduction brings charges: Police arrested four suspects involved in an alleged unlawful confinement of a Ponoka man Wednesday, Dec. 17. A traffic stop was initiated at the Stampede Esso where several officers came to the aid of the victim. Photo by Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye
Seven charged with abduction appear in court, four to be released on bail BY PONOKA NEWS STAFF
Three suspects out of seven were remanded in custody by choice and four others were to be released pending bail after their first court appearance on Friday, Dec. 19 over charges of abduction and unlawful confinement of a Ponoka resident over an alleged drug debt of $200. Police arrested the seven suspects on Wednesday, Dec. 17 after they abducted a 23-year- old male from his home and forcibly confined him to another residence. The seven accused are: Christine Kirke-
by (29) of Red Deer, Shane Kerik (42) of Lacombe County, Tyler Scott (21) of Red Deer, Lane Dickson (19) of Red Deer, Ashley Shewchuk (28) of Ponoka, Zackary Purdy (24) of Innisfail and James MillerLaney (28) of Ponoka. They jointly face charges of break, enter and commit robbery using a firearm; assault with the intent to steal while armed with an offensive weapon; use of a firearm during kidnapping; carry imitation of a weapon; utter threats to kill and unlawful confinement. According to the details of the incident
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disclosed during the court proceedings, at approximately 5 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 17, four men arrived at the victim’s house and kicked down the door while in possession of what appeared to be a rifle, swords and machetes. They forced those in the house to lie down on the floor while searching for valuable items. Before leaving, they told the victim they would return for him. The victim, who cannot be named, did not report the incident to police. Crown prosecutor R. Clark told the court those who broke into the house that
morning were part of a new drug trafficking gang operating in Ponoka. The abduction and confinement is said to have been triggered by $200 in drug money allegedly owed by the victim to one of the accused. Later in the day, the suspects returned and took the victim to the confinement residence, where he remained for some time. The police were alerted to the incident by passersby, one of whom witnessed the victim being transported back to a maroon Chevy Suburban. continued on page 3