During a lengthy investigation by Lac La Biche RCMP, which stemmed from an armed robbery involving a firearm in Lac La Biche in mid-February 2026, police were able to identify a suspect. Multiple resources from the Alberta RCMP, including Lac La Biche detachment police officers, Emergency Response Team, Police Dog Service, and the Eastern Alberta District Crime Reduction Unit, executed a search warrant on April 1, at a residential property on the Beaver Lake Cree Nation. This comprehensive arrest plan utilized multiple RCMP resources, including an armored vehicle, police service dog, remote piloted aerial surveillance, and temporary closure of a section of Lameman Drive, which resulted in a successful arrest of the male suspect.
James Dean Lameman, a 35-year-old resident of Beaver Lake Cree Nation, was arrested and has been charged with 25 offences under the Criminal Code of Canada and 2 offences under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Some of these charges include:
- Robbery,
- various firearms-related offences,
- Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking x 2 (suspected methamphetamine and cocaine).
James Lameman has been remanded in custody and is to appear in the Alberta Court of Justice in St. Paul on April 9, 2026.
“With cooperation from the community, we were able to make a successful arrest for the robbery in our community this past February. The related police search resulted in the seizure of drugs and weapons, items that serve no lawful purpose and only bring suffering to our community” said Staff Sergeant Christopher Mosley, Detachment Commander for the Lac La Biche RCMP Detachment. “The community is much safer now with these drugs and weapons taken out of the hands of criminals, and the matter is now before the courts.”
RCMP encourage all Albertans to report any suspicious activity they witness, as this allows for proper statistical reporting and aids in the reduction of crime. Reports tell them where to look, who to look for, and where to patrol in the future.
If you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), online at www.P3Tips.com or by using the “P3 Tips” app available through the Apple App or Google Play store. To report crime online, or for access to RCMP news and information, download the Alberta RCMP app through Apple or Google Play. To contact RCMP non-emergency line within any Alberta RCMP jurisdiction call 310-RCMP(7267).
