Two Lethbridge residents are facing a series of weapons and drug-related charges following a police investigation that resulted in the seizure of multiple loaded firearms and illegal substances. The investigation began on April 17, 2026, after the Lethbridge Police Service started looking into a male suspected of illegally possessing firearms.
Vance Elton Rocky Roger Pidborochynski, 36, and Shelby Lee Filkowski, 30, were arrested without incident in an alley behind Mt Rundle Boulevard. Because of the potential danger posed by the suspected firearms, the police department’s specialized Critical Incident Team was deployed to assist with the arrests.
During the arrest, police searched a vehicle and recovered a loaded Sten submachine gun equipped with a suppressor, a loaded sawed-off 12-gauge shotgun, approximately 210 grams of methamphetamine, 158 grams of cocaine, 160 synthetic opiate pills, and nearly $1,400 in cash. A subsequent search warrant executed at a nearby residence on Mt Rundle Boulevard led to the recovery of an additional loaded sawed-off 12-gauge shotgun, a sawed-off .22 rifle, and various quantities of ammunition.
Both suspects were remanded in custody following their arrests and made appearances in court on April 20, 2026. Each individual is currently facing approximately 29 charges, including multiple counts of unauthorized possession of a firearm, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, and possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking.
This arrest takes place within a community that has recently seen a decline in reported criminal activity. According to city statistics, Lethbridge saw an overall 16 per cent reduction in crime and an 18 per cent decrease in the Crime Severity Index in 2024. West Lethbridge, the area where these arrests occurred, recorded the most significant improvement in the city with a 25 per cent reduction in crime violations during that same period.
