RCMP offering $10k as search continues for suspect in killing of Rocky View County worker

Police are upping the reward for tips as they continue to search for an outstanding suspect wanted in a killing east of Calgary earlier this month.

Mounties in Alberta, B.C. and Saskatchewan, along with Edmonton, Lethbridge and Calgary Police Service members, are all still looking for 28-year-old Elijah Blake Strawberry in connection with the killing of Rocky View County employee Colin Hough on Aug. 6.

RCMP are now offering up to a $10,000 reward for any tips offered to police between Aug. 23 and Aug. 30 that lead to the arrest of Strawberry.

“A decision to offer $10,000 for any information leading to Strawberry’s arrest is not something that happens often, but it does demonstrate the Alberta RCMP’s commitment to follow all avenues available to find Mr. Strawberry in a timely manner,” said Staff Sgt. Mark Wielgosz.

Wielgosz says investigators still believe Strawberry is in Alberta, but added police in B.C. and Saskatchewan are aware of what he looks like in case they encounter him.

Strawberry is described as having a light complexion, 6’1″ tall, 169 lbs, brown hair, with several arm and face tattoos. He is considered armed and dangerous and anyone who sees him is being advised to call 911.

CrimeStoppers is still offering up to $2,000 for anyone that provides anonymous tips that lead to Strawberry’s arrest.

Carjacking led to fatal shooting, police say

Thirty-five-year-old Arthur Wayne Penner was arrested in Edmonton on Aug. 11 and faces a first-degree murder and attempted murder charge for his alleged role in the shooting that left Hough dead and another man injured.

RCMP believe Penner and Strawberry headed out to the country looking for a new vehicle after the one they had stolen the day before was partially disabled in a minor accident.

It’s alleged the suspects burned the vehicle they arrived to the rural intersection in, with a plan to steal the truck of a FortisAlberta employee working near Range Road 282 and Township Road 250, just north of Chestermere.

Police believe Hough pulled over to help, at which time he and the Fortis employee were shot. The pair then stole Hough’s Rocky View County pickup truck and drove in northeast of the scene to Wheatland County, before dumping it.

A shelter-in-place alert was issued after police located the abandoned truck using a GPS system, and was eventually ended after RCMP determined the pair were no longer in the area.