Man wanted in death of Rocky View County employee still on the run: RCMP

It’s been one month since since Rocky View County employee Colin Hough was shot to death on a rural road east of Calgary, and RCMP say one of the men accused of killing him has yet to be caught.

Police continue to search for Elijah Blake Strawberry, 28, who remains wanted for second-degree murder.

RCMP believe 35-year-old Arthur Wayne Penner, who was arrested on Aug. 11, and Strawberry, headed out to Rocky View County looking for a new vehicle after the one they had stolen the day before in Calgary 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 have called Hough a Good Samaritan who 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.

This week, an investigative team was in the Red Deer area following up on leads. RCMP officers conducted searches of several locations without success.

However, police remain confident he is still in Alberta and ask Albertans to be vigilant.

The timeline has been extended for the RCMP’s $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Strawberry. CrimeStoppers is also offering a $2,000 reward.

Strawberry has a light complexion, 6’1″ and 169 pounds, with brown hair. He also has several tattoos that include “Trust” on his left hand, “Honour and Loyalty” on his right hand, X’s and a cobweb on his right forehead, and geometric lines on his left neck and face that extend onto his forehead.

He is considered armed and dangerous. If seen, don’t approach and call 911 immediately.

Anyone with information about Strawberry is asked to contact Strathmore RCMP at 403-934-3535 or CrimeStoppers.