A 38-year-old man and a 34-year-old woman are each facing several charges after they were arrested following the theft of a vehicle and cash on the Beardy’s & Okemasis Cree Nation near Duck Lake.
In a news release issued December 17, Rosthern RCMP say a significant amount of cash has been recovered as a result of public assistance and the quick thinking of Saskatchewan RCMP police officers.
At 7:43 a.m. December 13, 2021, Rosthern RCMP received a report of a theft on Beardy’s & Okemasis Cree Nation. The complainant advised investigators their personal vehicle had been stolen from their residence – with a significant amount of cash inside.
The Rosthern RCMP Detachment immediately began seeking assistance from the public and following up on leads and information.
A male suspect was identified and it was reported he had just left a business south of Saskatoon and was traveling in a taxi cab towards the city.
The taxi was located just south of Saskatoon and a traffic stop was conducted by Saskatoon RCMP. Two passengers: the adult male suspect and an adult female were arrested at 9:21 a.m. December 13.
Much of the cash that was reported stolen has been recovered.
Saskatchewan RCMP’s General Investigation Section (GIS) were contacted to assist with the investigation and drafting of a search warrant. RCMP officers in GIS and across the province are specially trained in drafting requests for authorization for an individual to enter and search a specific location in relation to an investigation. These requests are then reviewed by a judge or Justice of the Peace who determine if they will be granted or not.
Generally speaking, this includes speaking with officers directly involved in the investigation, reviewing statements and summarizing the overall investigation. In this instance, GIS worked with both Rosthern and Saskatoon RCMP Detachments prior to the search warrant being signed by the Justice of the Peace and executed.
“A large portion of the money reported missing was recovered in three locations as a result of the executed search warrant and overall investigation,” said RCMP Sgt. Spence. “I would say it was especially meaningful to share this information with the victims considering it’s so close to the holiday season. The excellent collaboration between multiple RCMP Detachments and support units is what ultimately led to the incredibly quick progression of this investigation and arrests in less than two hours from the initial call for service.”
As a result of the investigation, 38-year-old Waylon Gardypie and 34-year-old Nikki Gardipy), both of Beardy’s First Nation, are charged with one count each of:
· Theft of motor vehicle, section 333.1(1) of the Criminal Code
· Theft over $5000.00, section 334(a) of the Criminal Code
· Possession of property obtained by crime, section 354(1) of the Criminal Code
Their next court date is January 11, 2022 in Saskatoon Provincial Court at 2:00 p.m.
Rosthern RCMP are still looking for the Jeep Cherokee that was reported stolen.
The vehicle reported stolen – a grey 2016 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk with Saskatchewan license plate 967 MDH – has not been located. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of this vehicle is asked to contact Rosthern RCMP at 306-232-6400 or call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477.