Claresholm RCMP are charging two males in relation to pipe bombs in the town this month.
At approximately 9:30 p.m. on March 25th, RCMP were sent to a complaint of a loud bang from a garage in the town. A witness explained that they saw two people carry someone and place them into a vehicle and leave. Moments later officers were called to the Claresholm hospital were a male had been dropped off with serious injuries. Officers went back to the location of the bang and found two people inside the garage.
On March 26th, with some assistance from the Southern Alberta District General Investigation Section and Crime Reduction Unit, officers executed a search warrant at a residence where they located various types of ammunition, pieces of pipe, fireworks, an explosive fuse, and ammunition that had been cut up to remove the gunpowder.
Jaden Ross Vincent, 27, of Claresholm, was located in the garage the might of the explosion and is being charged with two counts of using explosives with intent, two counts of mischief under $5,000 and two counts of failing to comply with a release order. Vincent was released on conditions and scheduled to appear in Fort McLeod Provincial Court on April 5th.
Michael John Wynia, 40, of Claresholm, the person injured in the garage explosion is being charged with three counts of making an explosive substance, three counts of mischief under $5,000, three counts of causing an explosion, possession of break in tools, and possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose. Wynia has also been released on conditions and scheduled to appear in Fort McLeod Provincial Court on April 5th.
After investigation it was revealed that Vincent and Wynia were responsible for the March 4th and 6th pipe bomb incidents in the town.