On Canada Day, Cochrane RCMP received multiple reports of a suspicious male in the Bragg Creek and Redwood Meadows areas. Thomas Hildenbrand,25, of no fixed address has been charged with robbery, assault with a weapon, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, two counts of theft of motor vehicle, theft over $5000 and mischief. Before police arrived on scene, a number of residents called in to report stolen vehichles and property. One vehicle owner attempted to stop the thief but was assaulted with bear spray. The RCMP said the crime spree began in Priddis around 10 a.m. A male suspect was arrested at a gas station in Bragg Creek at 1:30 p.m. All of the vehicles and property that were stolen have since been recovered and the male who was bear sprayed was not transported to hospital. Hildenbrand was released from custody and is next scheduled to appear in Cochrane Court on July 24, 2018 at 9 a.m. RCMP commended local residents for providing intelligence to the dispatch and encourage anyone who encounters suspiscious activity in the future to report it.
