Slave Lake RCMP makes an arrest after a break and enter
Slave Lake, Alta. – On Jan. 18, 2026, Slave RCMP received a complaint of a break and enter in progress at a commercial lot. Slave Lake RCMP attended and located the suspects as they were leaving the area. Both suspects were arrested. A search incidental to arrest revealed 53g of methamphetamine on one of the suspects.
As a result of the investigation, Matthew Mckinley (42) and Denise Batenchuk (53), both residents of Slave Lake, were arrested. Batenchuk was charged with break and enter, as well as failure to comply with a court order, while Mckinley was charged with:
- Break and enter;
- Possession of break-in tools;
- Mischief; and
- Possession of methamphetamines.
Mckinley and Batenchuk were brought before a justice of the peace and released on conditions. They are to appear before the Alberta Court of Justice in Slave Lake on Feb. 18, 2026.
“Thanks to timely reporting and a quick police response, officers were able to arrest two individuals in the act of committing a break and enter,” said S/Sgt. Casey Bruyns, Slave Lake RCMP Detachment Commander. “This outcome highlights the importance of the public reporting suspicious activity promptly and allows police to respond to crimes in progress.”