GRANDE PRAIRIE, Alta. – A traffic stop attempt involving a stolen license plate led RCMP to uncover a deeper case of loan fraud and identity theft involving multiple suspects.
On April 30, 2025, Grande Prairie RCMP identified a black Kia Sportage with stolen license plates. When officers attempted to stop the vehicle, the driver fled. The next day, May 1, members of the RCMP Crime Reduction Unit (CRU) located the vehicle parked in a residential driveway and called in the Rural General Investigation Section (GIS) for support.
Police waited until the occupants entered the vehicle and attempted to drive away. Officers then blocked the vehicle and arrested the two individuals inside. A subsequent investigation revealed the Kia Sportage had been purchased through a loan obtained via identity theft.
As a result, three individuals were charged:
Mary Estelle, 21, of no fixed address, was the passenger and was charged with:
Fraud over $5,000
Identity fraud
Breach of release order
Dylan Sutton, 26, of Grande Prairie, was the driver and was charged with:
Fraud over $5,000
Identity fraud
Obstructing a peace officer
Dwayne Olson, 26, of Hythe, Alberta, was also charged with:
Fraud over $5,000
Identity fraud
An arrest warrant has been issued for Olson.
Estelle was released on conditions, while Sutton was remanded into custody. Both are scheduled to appear in Alberta Court of Justice in Grande Prairie on May 7, 2025. The investigation remains ongoing.
