Maidstone– The North Battleford Provincial General Investigation Section of the RCMP, in conjunction with the Maidstone RCMP Detachment, as well as several other RCMP Detachments were involved in a lengthy investigation into a series of large scale crude oil thefts in the Maidstone, Lloydminster, Cutknife, and Kitscoty, Alta., areas. This investigation spanned over the course of several months. On January 19, 2016, police arrested Bruce Russell Hardy, a sixty one year old male from Lashburn, Saskatchewan, in relation to these thefts.
Bruce Russell Hardy has subsequently been charged with seven counts of theft over $5000, contrary to Section 334 of the Criminal Code. He is scheduled for his first appearance on February 23 in Lloydminster Provincial Court.
