Two arrested after police locate stolen semi on Highway 21

A couple of men have been arrested after trying to steal a semi-trailer.

On Wednesday (Jan.12) at 12:13 p.m., Edmonton Police Service contacted the RCMP Central Alberta District Crime Reduction Unit and Strathcona County RCMP, alerting them of a stolen semi-trailer and trailer parked off Highway 21 near Sherwood Park. 

The truck and trailer, loaded with $80,000 worth of lumber, had been reported stolen out of Nisku earlier that morning. 

Edmonton police maintained a watch as the semi-truck began driving to a gas station on Highway 16 near Ardrossan and stopped again. Once at the gas station, another vehicle picked up the driver and left the semi-truck behind. Police located the second vehicle in St. Albert and arrested two men. 

The second car, driven by the pair, had been reported stolen from Saskatchewan in 2017. 

Morris Simmonds, 59, and Trevis Kleparchuk, 51, both of Edmonton, are facing several charges, including: 

• Possession of stolen property 
• Operation of a motor vehicle while prohibited 

Kleparchuk was also charged with fraudulent concealment. 

Both were remanded into custody and are scheduled to appear in Sherwood Park court on Jan. 19.