Two Medicine Hat residents charged after police seize copper wire, drugs and weapons

Police arrested two people with outstanding warrants without incident.

During the search, police seized about 650 pounds of copper wire, a wire-stripping machine and tools used to process copper.

Officers also found cocaine, methamphetamine, a conducted energy weapon, a prohibited knife and a replica handgun, along with other property believed to be connected to theft investigations.

Police estimate the seized copper has a scrap value of about $5,200.

Forty-three-year-old Brian Aske and Chelsea Grisbrook, 34, both of Medicine Hat, have each been charged with possession of a prohibited weapon, possession of stolen property valued at more than $5,000, possession for the purpose of trafficking stolen property and possession of a controlled substance.

Aske also faces one count of breaching a release order and four counts of breaching firearms prohibition orders, while Grisbrook faces two counts of breaching a release order.

Both accused were held for judicial interim release hearings; Aske was remanded into custody, while Grisbrook was released on a release order.

Both are scheduled to appear in Medicine Hat court on Nov. 5.

Police say copper theft can have consequences beyond the scrap value of the material, particularly when infrastructure and industrial sites are targeted.

Businesses can face repair bills, equipment replacement costs and operational disruptions, with those expenses potentially passed on to consumers.

The investigation remains ongoing as police work to identify potential victims connected to the recovered copper and other suspected stolen property.

by Jett Schwaier

Two Medicine Hat residents charged after police seize copper wire, drugs and weapons

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