RCMP charge man with waving firearm at Lac La Biche rodeo

A Goodfish Lake man, 20-year-old Keith Faithful, was arrested after witnesses say he was waving a firearm around and causing a disturbance at a rodeo in Lac La Biche on Aug. 17.

At approximately 4:15 p.m., Lac La Biche RCMP received a report of suspicious behaviour at the Kikino Rodeo near the Silver Birch Resort. Witnesses described a male waving a firearm around causing a disturbance and inciting fear to the rodeo attendees.

Lac La Biche RCMP in coordination with the RCMP’s Real Time Operations Centre deployed police resources to the Kikino Rodeo grounds. RCMP spoke with cooperative witnesses and Rodeo attendees. A description was provided of the subject and details of a sawed-off shot gun being displayed in a dangerous manner.

Lac La Biche RCMP located and arrested an adult male without further incident. Police continued their investigation following the arrest as no firearm was located at the rodeo grounds during the initial response. RCMP from Lac La Biche executed a search warrant on the mobile home and vehicle of the arrested male. Following the search of the mobile home a prohibited firearm described as a .22 calibre sawed-off shot gun was recovered along with ammunition.

Faithful has been charged with possession of a weapon for dangerous purpose, carrying a concealed weapon, careless use of a firearm, unauthorized possession of a firearm, and possession of a restricted / prohibited weapon.

Faithful is known to police. With help from rodeo security, the arrest took place seamlessly without incident to the rodeo events or attendees.

Faithfull was taken before a Justice of the Peace and released from custody with conditions. Faithful’s next appearance is Sept. 16 at the Alberta Court of Justice in Lac La Biche, Alta.

The Lac La Biche RCMP would also like to thank the public and the Kikino Rodeo committee for being vigilant in reporting this suspicious person to the police. The response and police investigation lead to a successful outcome in recovering a prohibited weapon and removing a unlawful firearm from the street.

If anyone has any information regarding this incident, please contact the Lac La Biche RCMP at 780‐ 404-2500, or your local police. 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.