Members of the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team (ALERT) unit have arrested and charged four individuals following a year-long investigation of an organized auto theft and re-vinning operation and are continuing the search for two more suspects, one of whom is wanted for murder.
The ALERT Auto Crimes unit says between June 18 and July 2, they arrested four of the six suspects involved in what police are calling a sophisticated auto theft and re-vinning operation, based out of a rural location near Evansburg, in Parkland County.
Officials say the following individuals have been arrested, and charged.
- 40-year-old Cherie Baptiste, a resident of Red Deer, has been charged with possession of proceeds of crime.
- 47-year-old Michael Labar, a resident of Red Deer, has been charged with possession of property obtained by crime, tampering with a vehicle identification number, criminal mischief, possession of proceeds of crime, and laundering proceeds of crime.
- 48-year-old Quinn Olson, a resident of Red Deer, has been charged with uttering a forged document.
- 67-year-old Sherry Mackenzie, a resident of Red Deer, has been charged with trafficking property obtained by crime, using a forged document, fraud, possession of proceeds of crime, and laundering proceeds of crime.
Investigators say they are continuing to search for two other individuals connected to this case.
- 22-year-old Joseph Chlala, a resident of Calgary who has been wanted for murder since 2023, is also facing charges of possession of property obtained by crime, tampering with a vehicle identification number, and criminal mischief in connection to this case.
- And 32-year-old Zarina Mir-Wais, a resident of Red Deer, is facing charges of uttering a forged document in relation to this case and a warrant has been issued for their arrest as well.
Chlala is described as five feet five inches tall, has a heavy build, with brown hair and green eyes. Police say Chlala has connections in Edmonton, Calgary, and Ottawa.
The Bolo Program is offering a reward of up to $50,000 dollars for information that leads to Chlala’s arrest.
Officers with ALERT say their investigation began in June of 2023 when a stolen vehicle was identified and linked to a homicide investigation in Edmonton. Investigators say the vehicle was then connected to a rural address where police say stolen vehicles were being re-vinned and reprogramed for resale and exportation under the cover of an auto detailing company.
In total, officers with ALERT say they were able to identify a total of 20 stolen vehicles and one stolen car-hauler trailer. Officials say they were able to recover 11 of those vehicles representing a total value of about $1 million. Investigators believe the other vehicles may have already been exported to Lebanon and Saudi Arabia.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpJ6nSj_kC4
Anyone with information on this case or the whereabouts of the suspects still at large is being asked to contact their local RCMP detachment immediately or to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
ALERT is thanking the Edmonton Police Service, the Calgary Police Service, Red Deer RCMP, Sylvan Lake RCMP, and the RCMP K-Division Auto Theft Unit for their assistance with this investigation.
