RCMP have charged two men after the abduction of a 48-year-old woman the morning of Oct. 17th in Red Deer.
Shortly before 7 a.m. on Oct. 17th, Red Deer RCMP responded to a gas station on 39th St. near 40th Ave. after a witness reported seeing a woman possibly being forced into a maroon Chevrolet Avalanche. RCMP were able to quickly identify a possible victim and one possible suspect. The investigation involved detailed and continuous intelligence gathering throughout the day, and Red Deer residents saw police attendance at numerous residences and police checks of a number of vehicles similar to that of the suspect Avalanche. The RCMP Major Crimes Unit (MCU) out of Edmonton arrived to take carriage of the investigation, and the RCMP Emergency Response Team also joined MCU and Red Deer RCMP officers during the intensive search.
Shortly after 3 p.m. on Oct. 17th, RCMP received a public tip regarding the location of the suspect and victim and located them at a south hill residence shortly afterward. RCMP arrested one male suspect and determined that the victim had suffered injuries that did not require hospitalization. RCMP arrested a second male suspect later the same evening. The suspects were known to the victim.
Ernest Frederick Ward, 47, faces the charges of kidnapping, forcible confinement, assault, sexual assault, uttering a threat to cause death or bodily harm, obstructing justice and two counts of failing to comply with conditions of an undertaking.
David Lee Gallinger, 25, faces the charge of kidnapping.
As this matter is now before the courts, RCMP will not be commenting further. RCMP thank the public for their assistance and support during this investigation, and ask that the public please respect the privacy of the victim.
-Submitted by Red Deer RCMP
