A 26-year-old Cochrane man, Benjamin Laslo, has been charged with two counts of ‘carrying a weapon for a purpose dangerous to the public peace', contrary to section 88 (1) of the Criminal Code.
A 26-year-old Cochrane man, Benjamin Laslo, has been charged with two counts of ‘carrying a weapon for a purpose dangerous to the public peace', contrary to section 88 (1) of the Criminal Code.
The investigation is ongoing and further charges may be pending.
Laslo appeared in Cochrane Provincial Court Aug. 19. He is being detained at the Calgary Remand Centre and is scheduled to make his next Cochrane court appearance Aug. 26.
Cochrane RCMP, along with the help of Calgary Police Services, arrested Laslo after it was reported that a man was walking around the community of West Valley with what appeared to be a longbow (identified as a crossbow) and a firearm (yet to be confirmed).
The incident began when witnesses spotted a man who appeared to be armed with a crossbow and a firearm near Mitford Park around 5 p.m. Aug. 17. Police responded to the report and ordered the man to drop his weapons. The man did not obey police orders and fled the scene, heading toward the Bow River.
“The attitude and disrespect that was demonstrated by the suspect resulted in an elevated level of response, ” explained Corp. Mel Calahasen with the Cochrane RCMP.
The RCMP Emergency Response Team South was deployed to assist the Cochrane detachment with this situation at approximately 6:15 p.m., as did Calgary Police Services' HAWCS helicopter, as they attempted to locate the suspect in the area of West Valley.
At approximately 8 p.m., police located the suspect in a home on Quigley Dr., just east of Mitford School.
Police blocked off a section of the road and advised all residents in the area to stay inside and lock their doors.
For nearly two hours, police urged the suspect to come out of the home with his hands in the air, and at approximately 9:45 p.m., the man surrendered, with no weapons in hand, and was taken into custody by local RCMP without incident.
“This is the best possible outcome for everyone involved, ” said staff sergeant Roger Waidson, detachment commander for Cochrane RCMP.
“I am sure the situation was very frightening for the citizens of Cochrane. I want to thank them for their assistance and cooperation throughout the incident. ”
Cochrane RCMP were unable to obtain a search warrant Aug. 18 for the home the suspect barricaded himself in, but were granted access by the homeowner; as of Aug. 19, Calahasen said it was too preliminary to reveal the findings from the investigation.
Cochrane RCMP dispelled rumours that the suspect's father was also arrested and charged in relation to the events that took place Aug. 17.
The suspect's father has not been charged with anything related to the event and according to Calahasen, he has been cooperative with the investigation.
“We understand as well that this was a case of retaliation, ” said Calahasen, referring to claims made by the suspect that he was randomly and viciously attacked by someone at the Texas Gate Bar and Grill a couple of nights previously.
The suspect's personal Facebook account shows a couple of disturbing videos, including one of the suspect smashing guitars and laughing about it with his father, as well as multiple references to seeking vengeance on an individual who he claims beat him badly.
Texas Gate owner Mark Horton contacted the Eagle, expressing his concern that rumours have run amuck that the suspect had allegedly gotten into an altercation at his establishment, spurring what local RCMP have dubbed a ‘case of retaliation'.
Horton explained that while the suspect did enter the Texas Gate between 1:10-1:20 a.m. Aug. 15, he appeared to be severely intoxicated and was refused service by staff.
He added that the suspect was offered a glass of water and after a few minutes he tried to grab another patron's drink and was at that point asked to leave the premises.
“Management asked him to leave and he did so without incident…there was no altercation (inside or outside of the bar) that any of my staff was aware of, ” said the bar owner.
Horton said that during the after hours, as staff were cleaning and closing the bar, a member from the Cochrane RCMP arrived to question staff about an event that appeared to have taken place several blocks away in front of an automotive shop.
It is believed that the suspect may have gotten into some kind of an altercation at that time and RCMP were trying to establish a timeline leading up to the event.
Horton said his staff has been fully cooperative with RCMP but that they are unaware of any details regarding an altercation that the suspect may or may not have been involved with in the early hours of the morning on Aug. 15.
Anyone with information related to this investigation should contact the Cochrane RCMP at 403-851-8000.
The event saw the Cochrane Eagle's Twitter account trending Aug. 17 in Calgary.
