By CHAT News Today

Man charged in southern Alberta crime spree makes brief court appearance

Aug 22, 2017 | 1:57 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — One of the two men charged in connection with a crime spree that stretched from Calgary to Medicine Hat made a brief court appearance on Tuesday.

Benjamin Schneider, 31, appeared in Medicine Hat provincial court Tuesday morning, where his case was adjourned to August 31. Schneider remains in custody, and his next appearance will be a bail hearing.

Schneider, who is from Medicine Hat, was arrested Saturday night at a hotel in the 600 block of Sixth Street SW, along with 47-year-old David Paul Dyck of Calgary. According to the Medicine Hat Police Service, the pair were driving in a BMW convertible that was allegedly stolen from Calgary.

“Earlier in the day, we had received word from the RCMP in Brooks that it had been involved in an assault, possibly involving bear spray, and that when the RCMP tried to pull that vehicle over, it didn’t stop,” said Inspector Joe West with the Medicine Hat Police Service.

West says police were on the lookout for the BMW after receiving the report from Brooks, and also after a report the same vehicle was involved in a gas theft in Medicine Hat.

Steam-powered passenger train to pass through Medicine Hat on Saturday

5m ago

Medicine Hat Public Library Comic Con taking place May 4

2h ago

Young minds, big ideas: Elementary students learn about urban planning with 'Box City'

Apr 25, 2024

A search of the car revealed stolen identifications, stolen electronics, methamphetamine, heroin, marijuana and bear spray. Police believe most of the stolen items are from Calgary, and the investigation is ongoing.

West praised the officers with the Medicine Hat Police Service for their work in apprehending the suspects, saying it became a priority when they heard the news out of Brooks and the gas theft locally.

“The vehicle was stolen, so we knew we had some serious matters to deal with,” he said. “Our officers were diligent, with just some good old-fashioned police work in looking for that vehicle, and they found it.”

Schneider has been charged with three counts of possession of a controlled substance and one count each of possession of stolen property over $5,000, possession of stolen property under $5,000, disqualified driving, possession of break-in instruments, possession of a weapon dangerous to the public, identity fraud with intent to avoid arrest, theft under $5,000 and failure to comply with probation order.

Dyck has been charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance, possession of stolen property over $5,000, possession of stolen property under $5,000, possession of break-in instruments, and possession of a weapon dangerous to the public.

Dyck was released on bail, and makes his next court appearance on September 5.