Claresholm RCMP investigating pipe bomb incidents – Update
March 29, 2023
Claresholm, Alta. – On March 25, 2023, at approximately 9:30 p.m., Claresholm RCMP were dispatched to a complaint of a loud bang from a garage in Claresholm. A witness said that they saw two people carry a person and put them in a vehicle and then drive away. A few minutes later, RCMP were called to the Claresholm hospital where an injured male had been dropped off with serious injuries. Officers then attended the location where the bang came from and found two people inside a garage. With assistance from Southern Alberta District General Investigation Section and Crime Reduction Unit, on March 26, 2023, RCMP executed a search warrant at the residence. Officers located the following:
- Various types of ammunition
- Pieces of pipe
- Fireworks
- An explosive fuse
- Ammunition that had been cut up to remove the gunpowder
Jaden Ross Vincent (27), a resident of Claresholm, who was located in the garage on the night of the explosion, has been charged with:
- Using explosives with intent (x2)
- Mischief under $5000 (x2)
- Fail to comply with a release order (x2)
Jaden Vincent was released on conditions and will be appearing in Fort Macleod Provincial Court on April 5, 2023. Michael John Wynia (40), a resident of Claresholm, who was injured in the garage explosion, has been charged with:
- Make an explosive substance (x3)
- Mischief under $5000 (x3)
- Cause an explosion (x3)
- Possession of break in tools
- Possess a weapon for a dangerous purpose
Michael Wynia has been released on conditions and will be appearing in Fort Macleod Provincial Court on April 5, 2023. This investigation revealed that the two accused were also responsible for the March 4 and March 6 pipe bomb incidents in Claresholm.
March 8, 2023
Claresholm RCMP investigating pipe bomb incidents
Claresholm, Alta. – On March 6, 2023, at 8:18 a.m., Claresholm RCMP were dispatched to a complaint of a garbage receptacle that had been blown up in Amundsen Park around 2:10 a.m. RCMP canvassed the scene and did neighbourhood inquiries, resulting in a video obtained from a resident’s doorbell camera showing a taller male and a shorter person walking up to the receptacle and placing a pipe bomb inside. They lit the fuse and watched the explosive destroy the garbage receptacle. The two suspects fled on foot in a north east direction. RCMP were then directed to a garbage bin at the Town of Claresholm compost site. Town employees advised that the garbage bin had been damaged by a pipe bomb explosion on March 4, 2023, around 6:30 a.m. Claresholm RCMP are reaching out to the public to see if anyone witnessed any of these crimes or heard of any information that could help RCMP in their investigation, to please contact the Claresholm RCMP at 403-625-4445. To report crime online, or for access to RCMP news and information, download the Alberta RCMP app through Apple or Google Play.