The RCMP has issued a “dangerous person alert” for parts of central Alberta as officers try to track down two men armed with guns following a robbery.
The alert was issued at 10:15 a.m. on Tuesday for Mayerthorpe and Lac Ste. Anne County. In the Mayerthorpe area, police said the alert was particularly relevant for the area of Highway 18 and Township Road 572, between Range Road 92 and Range Road 80. As of 2:49 p.m., the alert remained in place.
Police said the suspects are believed to be on foot.
One suspect is described as a man who is about 30 years old, about five-foot-11 in height and who weighs about 205 pounds. He has dark hair, brown eyes and is wearing a cowboy hat and a black sweater.
The second suspect is described as being a man, about six feet tall and 220 pounds. He has brown hair and blue eyes and is wearing a black flat brim hat with red letters.
“Do not open the door to strangers or pick up hitchhikers,” the RCMP said Tuesday morning. “Do not approach suspects.
“Report all sightings to 911.”
In an update just after 2:30 p.m., Mayerthorpe RCMP said officers received information at about 9 a.m. that a stolen vehicle from Edmonton may be in the surrounding area. Police were able to locate the vehicle, but it fled from police. Officers later located the vehicle abandoned.
“The occupants were suspected to have fled on foot and based on information obtained during the investigation, the occupants were also believed to have been armed,” RCMP said.
After an “exhaustive search,” RCMP said they no longer believe the suspects are in the immediate area and do not believe there is any imminent risk to the community.
“We understand how situations such as this can make a community feel uneasy, but rest assured, your Alberta RCMP are there for you and working to keep our communities safe,” RCMP said.
Just after 10:30 a.m., Northern Gateway Public Schools, which operates more than a dozen schools in Mayerthorpe and other nearby communities, posted on social media that Elmer Elson Elementary School and Mayerthorpe High School “have enacted a precautionary hold and secure.”
They said the decision to implement hold-and-secure protocols in the school was a result of advice from the RCMP “due to activity in the town of Mayerthorpe.”
“Students are safe and in class, and will be kept in the school until the hold and secure has been lifted,” the school division said.
The hold and secure at both schools was lifted around 11:45 a.m. Tuesday.
Some area businesses announced they were temporarily closing their doors to customers because of the alert.
Mayerthorpe is located about 140 kilometres northwest of Edmonton.
with files from Caley Gibson, Global News.