The Nova Scotia RCMP has charged a man after investigating a multi-jurisdictional crime spree, with offences occurring Pictou and Colchester counties and East Hants.
Between October 25 and November 17, 2022, Pictou County District RCMP, Colchester County District RCMP and East Hants District RCMP, all responded to incidents involving break-ins and thefts in their respective areas.
On November 16, Colchester County District RCMP located and seized an abandoned enclosed trailer that had been previously stolen from Valley. Through continued investigation, a person of interest was identified and on November 17, Pictou County District RCMP arrested a 26-year-old Lyons Brook man.
On November 18, Colchester County District RCMP, with assistance from the Pictou County Integrated Street Crime Enforcement Unit (SCEU), Pictou County District RCMP and Antigonish County District RCMP, executed a search warrant on a property in Lyons Brook. During the search police located and seized various items including a loaded rifle, a shotgun with ammunition, and many high-value tools, including “Jaws of Life” rescue equipment from the Barneys River Volunteer Fire Department. Police also seized and executed a search warrant on a truck which was reported stolen in Ontario in October 2022.
Aaron Eildert Rice, 26, of Lyons Brooks, has been charged with:
- Break and Enter (7 counts);
- Theft (8 counts);
- Possession of Stolen Property (3 counts);
- Fraud;
- Using a Stolen Credit Card (5 counts);
- Identity Theft (2 counts);
- Careless Use of a Firearm (2 counts);
- Possession of a Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose (2 counts);
- Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm (2 counts);
- Possession of a Firearm Knowing Its Possession is Unauthorized (2 counts);
- Possession of a Firearm While Prohibited (3 counts);
- Possession of a Firearm in a Motor Vehicle (2 counts)
Rice was remanded into custody and will appear in Truro Provincial Court on December 7, 2022, at 9:30 a.m.
Source: Release