Joint RCMP investigation nabs prolific offender

ALBERTA -- A joint RCMP investigation has led to the arrest of a prolific property offender in Central Alberta.

The investigation began on August 20, 2025, and involved various police units including the Ponoka General Investigation Section, Leduc RCMP Stryke Team, the Wetaskiwin RCMP Crime Reduction Unit, among others. Police say they tracked the suspect to a property in Wetaskiwin County, and after establishing surveillance they observed a suspected stolen truck leaving the area.

While conducting the surveillance, the truck deliberately rammed a police vehicle in an attempt to disable it. RCMP Police Dog Services attempted to stop the truck, but it fled at a high rate of speed. The truck was disabled using a tire deflation device in Leduc County near Warburg, however, the subject managed to steal a Honda dirt bike from a rural property and continued fleeing for a short distance.

The suspect -- 28-year-old Bryan Moffitt -- was eventually taken into custody, and it was then confirmed that the truck was stolen from Red Deer. 

The following day, RCMP executed a search warrant at the property in Wetaskiwin County where the stolen truck initially left. Investigators seized a rifle, homemade shotgun, fentanyl, methamphetamine, drug packaging materials, a digital scale, a rifle, two stolen lawnmowers, and a partial stolen VIN plate. A second suspect -- 42-year-old Patrick McAuley -- was then taken into custody as well.

"These arrest highlights the effective partnership between the RCMP and the Edmonton Police Service," said A/Sgt John Learn of the Wetaskiwin Crime Reduction Unit. "Thanks to the quick response of EPS Air 1 and the combined efforts of all the RCMP units involved, this incident was brought to a safe conclusion."

Moffitt was taken before a Justice of the Peace and remanded into custody for future court dates at the Alberta Court of Justice in Ponoka, while McAuley had his first court appearance on August 26th at the Alberta Court of Justice in Wetaskiwin.