Redcliff RCMP apprehend suspect in standoff

Posted on June 30, 2023 by Ryan Dahlman

Southern Alberta Newspapers

Charges have been laid against a Redcliff man after shots were fired at police.

Mounties say an individual who shot at officers during a standoff on June 16 was in custody and appeared in court on June 20.

RCMP surrounded a trailer near Fourth Avenue and Fifth Street in the town on the evening of June 16 with the aid of Medicine Hat Police. Authorities say an assault and theft investigation from earlier in the day led them to the location where a suspect “resisted arrest and fired a gun at police” before retreating into a camper on the property. Additional shots were heard before the standoff ended at 1:30 a.m. on June 17 when the man surrendered.

Johnathon Andrew Kearney, 32, was arrested and charged with 14 weapons offences, including recklessly discharging a firearm as well as resisting arrest and failing to comply with release conditions and a conditional sentence order.

There were no injuries to the suspect or police.

As a result of investigation, RCMP have charged Kearney with:

• Discharge firearm with intent

• Discharge firearm while being reckless

• Additional weapon/firearms offences (x12)

• Resist arrest

• Fail to comply with release conditions

• Breach of Conditional Sentence Order

Kearny was taken before a Justice of the Peace and remanded in custody and his most recent court date was June 20 at the Alberta Court of Justice at Medicine Hat.