In mid-February, a large group of police officers descended upon a property in Parkland County, searching the acreage west of Stony Plain.
Two months later, the RCMP’s counter-terror unit says an arsenal of weapons was found and dozens of charges have been laid against a man suspected of posing a threat to the public.
RCMP say Parkland County man Kelvin Gregory Maure, 26, was one of several people being looked into since September 2020 as part of a larger ongoing investigation.
In January 2021, Maure displayed “escalating behaviour leading investigators to believe he presented a threat to critical infrastructure, police, and the public”, a news release on Thursday said.
Maure is alleged to have made several online posts with comments and photographs deemed to be a threat.
RCMP said the online activity, together with other actions taken by Maure, resulted in RCMP taking him into custody. Police did not elaborate on what the other actions were.
On Feb. 13, Maure was arrested and has remained in custody ever since. A Parkland County resident who lives in the Heatherlea Estates area told Global News the police presence remained for several days.
RCMP said it executed search warrants on several properties west of Edmonton, resulting in the seizure of numerous firearms and other paraphernalia, including a beige sweater with several RCMP patches sewn on, and a military-style vest.
The cache of guns included an AK-47, AK-74, rifles and a semi-automatic Viking 22 handgun, and several rounds of ammunition. (Scroll down for more photos)
“An ever increasing concern and challenge faced by law enforcement is the use of the internet and social media as a platform to inspire, radicalize or espouse extremist messaging or calls for violence,” said Insp. Scott Isaac, the officer in charge of the RCMP “K” Division INSET.
“As experienced in this recent investigation, the accused was interacting online with like-minded individuals in posting extreme views that ultimately escalated towards him engaging in criminal activity that posed a considerable risk to public and police safety, ultimately resulting in his arrest.”
“As the investigation continues, we are attempting to determine whether the accused’s actions were motivated by a specific ideology or if there were broader intentions to his activities.,” Isaac said.
Maure was charged with a total of 34 criminal charges:
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- Seven counts of possession of a prohibited firearm
- Five counts of possession of a prohibited firearm in a motor vehicle
- Five counts of possession of a prohibited firearm or weapon knowing he was not the holder of a license or registration certificate
- Three counts of possession of a loaded prohibited firearm or with readily accessible ammunition
- Three counts of making or possessing an explosive substance
- Two counts of personation of a peace officer
- Three counts of careless storage of a firearm
- Two counts of possession of a prohibited firearm without holding a license
- Carry a concealed firearm
- Importing a prohibited device
- Break and enter
- Mischief
Maure’s next court appearance is scheduled for May 7 in Stony Plain.
The Integrated National Security Enforcement Teams — or INSET — is a multi-agency team led by the RCMP that investigates criminal activities of terrorist groups or people who pose a threat to Canada’s national security.
The INSET in Alberta includes employees of the RCMP, Edmonton Police Service, Calgary Police Service, Canada Border Services Agency and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, or CSIS.
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