A Calgary man and woman have been charged with burglary

Two men are facing charges in connection with last week's violent shooting near Carstairs, Alta., and a series of robberies at golf courses in southern Alberta.

On Feb. 9, RCMP were dispatched to a break and enter in progress at Silver Willow Farm Sports Club, located west of Carstairs in Mountain View County, around 5 a.m.

A representative of the property called during the break-in after the security system alerted the two suspects to the business, police said in a news release Monday.

The caller drove to the business and saw two suspects attempting to flee the scene in a Volkswagen hatchback.

After the traffic jam, police said the male suspect got out of the car and ran toward the caller with a long-barreled gun. The suspect then fired at the caller and hit their vehicle.

“He was pretty shaken up even though he had people like that on his property, but it was very difficult for him to go about his business and not get shot,” said Staff Sgt. Stephen Brown, Didsbury Squad Commander.

“The level of violence that suspects are willing to use to evade capture is always troubling.”

RCMP responded to the scene and sheltered the area.

Two suspects were arrested soon after.

Kyle Nechiporenko, 37, of Calgary, has been charged with attempted murder and multiple firearms offences.

Soleil Venas, 20, also of Calgary, was charged with possession of a firearm without a license and failure to comply with a release order.

Both were charged with seven additional counts of burglary, weapons, burglary and mischief.

Carstairs is approximately 65 kilometers north of Calgary.

Access to the golf course

As part of a second news release Monday, RCMP said Nechiporenko and Venas were charged in January and February in connection with breaking and entering at golf courses and other businesses.

Several RCMP detachments investigated the vandalism, but on January 30, the Cochrane Crime Reduction Unit was assigned to investigate.

“Of course, it was purposeful. It's a break and most of the entrants are on the golf courses,” said Cpl. Kyle Ash, with the Cochrane RCMP Crime Reduction Unit.

“I don't know why, but that was the pattern we chose.”

Ashe said golf courses were damaged and various items were stolen.

“Mostly cash, but also electronics like point of sale, laptops, lottery tickets, cigarettes and things of that nature,” he said.

On February 9, officers executed a search warrant at a residence in northwest Calgary. The woman was arrested and her stolen property was seized, including laptops, motorcycles, firearms, ID and ID forgery equipment, tools, bicycles, safes and golf accessories.

RCMP said the seized evidence linked the three suspects to the following locations:

• Silver Willow Sports Club of Mountain View County;
• Cottonwood Golf Club in Foothills County;
• Sirocco Golf Course in Foothills County;
• Redwood Meadows Golf Course in Tsuutina;
• Priddis Greens Golf Course in Foothills County;
• River Spirit Golf Course in Calgary;
• Winter Green Golf Course in Rocky View County;
• Water Valley Salon in Water Valley;
• Serenity Golf Club in Rocky View County;
• Kananaskis Country Golf Course in Kananaskis; and
• Livingston Golf Course in Rocky View County.

An ATM at Winter Green Golf Course in Rocky View County was broken into and some office equipment was stolen. (Courtesy: Alf Beaudry)

Wintergreen Golf and Country Club golf course manager Alf Beaudry said windows and doors were damaged, but the thieves also ransacked an ATM.

“They went through the whole building, the pro shop and a lot of the offices, they left laptops and radios behind,” Beaudry said.

“It looked like they were just going for the cash or something impossible.”

He said the two suspects involved in the Carstairs incident were thankful no staff on the course were injured.

“I'm not directing anyone to enter the building,” Beaudry said.

“Then at 6 a.m. we're all together, but by then it's safe.”

Between the Didsbury incident and the other break-ins, Nechiporenko faces 29 charges and Venas faces 16.

Both were remanded in custody following bail hearings and are scheduled to appear in court in Didsbury on February 12.

A third suspect, whom the RCMP has not named, has been charged with trespassing and possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000. He was released on bond and is scheduled to appear in Cochrane Court on March 12.