One man arrested after armed robbery suspects trigger emergency alert from Alberta RCMP

UPDATE: On Sept. 20, 2024, RCMP said a28-year-old man from Whitecourt, who surrendered to police, has been charged with nine criminal offences, including kidnapping with a firearm, robbery with a firearm and assault with a weapon. An arrest warrant for the second male, a 30-year-old resident of Grande Prairie, has been issued. RCMP said the offences committed were targeted.

One of two suspects in an armed robbery that triggered an emergency alert northwest of Edmonton Tuesdayhas been arrested.

The other suspect remains at large but is no longer considered an imminent threat to the public,RCMP said Wednesday.

Thecritical dangerous persons alertwas issued at 10:15 a.m. MT Tuesday covered thecommunity of Mayerthorpe and parts of Lac Ste. Anne County.

In thealert, RCMP said the two men were armed with guns after an armed robbery and were believed to be travelling through the area on foot.

In a followup news release Tuesday afternoon, Mayerthorpe RCMP said that around 9 a.m. MT, policeresponded to reports that a vehicle stolen from Edmonton may be in the Mayerthorpe area.

RCMP members were able to locate the vehicle, but its driver fled from police.

An "exhaustive search" followed, including RCMP members from surrounding detachments and from the RCMP emergency response team, police said.

In the initial emergency alert, police had warned people in the area not to open their doors to strangers or pick up hitchhikers.

Residents of the area are encouraged to report any suspicious activity or tips to the Mayerthorpe RCMP or Crime Stoppers.