Five police are facing charges connected to an early morning incident Thursday at a southside motel.
Lethbridge Police officers are said to have responded to the business in the 1000 block of Mayor Magrath Drive South around 4:30 a.m. after receiving a report alleging two women wanted on outstanding warrants were in one of the rooms. The report also alleged the two women could have weapons with them at the time.
According to LPS officials when officers got to the motel two men walked out of the room and got into a vehicle in the parking lot. One of the men is described as having a mask covering his face, while the other is said to have one around his neck and chin. The pair are said to have attempted to flee on foot when officers approached. The man who was masked is said to have pulled an item police say looked like a handgun, officers used sock rounds and an energy weapon before taking the man into custody. The item turned out to be a lighter that looked like a handgun. The second man was arrested without further incident.
Officials say the other occupants in the room were directed to exit and surrender to police. Initially two people refused to exit and members of the Tactical Team were called in. The two women are said to have exited after a short standoff and taken into custody.
A release from police reads “Warrants were subsequently obtained to search the room, along with a second room at a different motel and two vehicles. Police seized ammunition, cell phones, a knife and small quantities of methamphetamine.” In the car the first two men were going to get into police also found a loaded shotgun.
Joel Robert Dragland, Kyle Dwight Miller, Layla Grace Whelan, Rikki Marie Peters and Crystal Dawn Marie Quinton are all facing a range of charges related to weapons, drugs and resisting arrest. The accused, all in their 30’s, have been remanded into custody awaiting awaiting Judicial Interim Release Hearings.
