Weekly Report: Monday, December 19 to Sunday, January 1, 2023, inclusive.
Please note all information below occurred within the time period above, unless otherwise noted.
Investigative Recap
Ongoing missing person investigations. Saskatchewan RCMP continues to ask for public assistance locating the following missing individuals:
- Frances Gazeley – Weyburn Detachment area
- Seth Deschambeault – Prince Albert Detachment area
- Malcolm Custer – Smeaton Detachment area
- Shequille “Shack” Gamble – Big River Detachment area
- Joanne Highway – Prince Albert Detachment area
- Dominic Kahpoonapit – Pierceland Detachment area
- Lila Dustyhorn – White Butte Detachment area
December 20: Joint law enforcement leads to seizure of 6.6 million illegal cigarettes, 28,800 illegal cigars. A recent joint initiative between the Saskatchewan RCMP’s Roving Traffic Unit, Saskatchewan Highway Patrol of the Provincial Protective Services Branch, and Saskatchewan Ministry of Finance Revenue Enforcement in the Moosomin, SK area has resulted in two significant contraband seizures on Saskatchewan roadways. On Tuesday, December 20, 2022, at approximately 10:40 a.m., an officer with the Saskatchewan Highway Patrol stopped a westbound commercial vehicle pulling a trailer to conduct a commercial vehicle inspection in Whitewood, SK. During the traffic stop, the officer made several observations which resulted in a Tobacco Tax Act investigation. A search of the commercial vehicle and trailer resulted in the seizure of 6.6 million illegal cigarettes and 28,800 illegal cigars. Officers arrested the driver and seized the truck and trailer as offence-related property.
“The investigation determined that these cigarettes originated in Ontario and were destined for the Edmonton area. The keen observations of the officer in this investigation resulted in a significant quantity of unstamped tobacco being removed from our highways,” says S/Sgt. Chad McLeod from Combined Traffic Services Saskatchewan. “The terrific partnership between Saskatchewan RCMP’s Roving Traffic Unit, Saskatchewan Highway Patrol and Saskatchewan Ministry of Finance Revenue Enforcement has proven to be invaluable and this is just another example of that.”
Matthew Peter Wright, 64, from Edmonton, AB, has been charged with:
– Possession of Unstamped Tobacco (Cigarettes) – Section 32(1) of the Excise Act, 2001;
– Possession of Unstamped Tobacco (Cigars) – Section 32(1) of the Excise Act, 2001;
– Possession of Unstamped Tobacco for the Purpose of Sale – Section 121.1(1) of the Criminal Code;
– Possession of Proceeds of Crime Under $5,000.00 – Section 354(1)(a) of the Criminal Code;
– Possession of Unmarked Tobacco That is Not Black Stock (Cigarettes) – Section 11(8) of the Tobacco Tax Act, 1998; and
– Possession of Unmarked Tobacco That is Not Black Stock (Cigars) – Section 11(8) of the Tobacco Tax Act, 1998.
Wright is scheduled to make his first court appearance on February 15, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. in Broadview, SK.
December 20: 1,755 vehicles checked on National Impaired Driving Enforcement Day
December 21: Saskatchewan RCMP WEST arrest adult male in Saskatoon declared unlawfully at large
December 21: La Ronge RCMP charge four after attempted robber, eight firearms found hidden in the snow
December 22: Rosthern RCMP continue to search for Leslie Parker, reported missing one year ago today
December 22: The Saskatchewan RCMP Operational Communication Centre will permanently host psychiatric nurses
December 22: Saskatchewan RCMP Roving Traffic Unit seizes unstamped tobacco, currency and cocaine. At approximately 3:45 p.m., a patrolling officer stopped a westbound vehicle on Highway 1 at Moosomin, SK. During the traffic stop, the officer determined the two vehicle occupants may be in possession of a controlled substance. As a result, the occupants were both detained for a drug investigation. The officer then observed unstamped tobacco which resulted in the occupants being arrested for possession of unstamped tobacco.
A subsequent search of the resulted in the seizure of a large sum of bundled Canadian currency as well as one ounce of cocaine.
Kattie Jane Hagan, 37, and Elroy Wilson Brooks, 45, both of Calgary, Alberta, have been jointly charged with:
– Possession of a controlled substance – Section 4(1) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act
– Possession of proceeds of crime over $5,000 – Section 354(1)(a) of the Criminal Code
– Possession of Unmarked Tobacco That is Not Black Stock – Section 11(8) of the Tobacco Tax Act, 1998
Hagan and Brooks will make their first court appearance on February 21, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. in Moosomin, SK.
December 26: Saskatchewan RCMP Major Crimes: male charged after suspicious death, serious assaults
December 28: Winter weather impacting road conditions across Saskatchewan
December 29: Saskatchewan RCMP Major Crimes investigating sudden death in Meadow Lake
December 30: Swift Current Municipal RCMP: male arrested after woman assaulted, threatened with weapons
December 30: Battlefords RCMP: three arrested after vehicle stolen from delivery driver
January 1: Swift Current RCMP – Two fatal overdoses in the past 3 days: Take precautions
January 1: January 1: From October to December 2022, Maidstone RCMP received multiple reports of people being victimized in sexting scams. The scams involve catfishing young males and teenage boys. The scammer entices the victim to send nude pictures of themselves. The scammer then demands payment and advises the victim that if they do not pay, the photos will be released to the victim’s contacts. Maidstone RCMP is warning the public of the inherent risks of sending private or sensitive images online as the actual recipient may not always be the only one who will receive or view this content. It is important to remain vigilant when receiving unsolicited text messages. Never provide personal or sensitive information to the requestor. Do not send money to the requestor, even if the message sounds urgent. Call your local police detachment to report this crime immediately.
If you or a family member have been contacted by a scammer, report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre — even if you didn’t give them any money (antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/report-signalez-eng.htm or 1-888-495-8501).
If you or a family member did lose money as a result of fraud, please contact your local police as well as the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/report-signalez-eng.htm or 1-888-495-8501).
January 1: At approximately 1:50 p.m., Ahtahkakoop RCMP received the report of possible gunshots coming from a residence earlier that day on Mistawasis First Nation. The initial report advised that lights were seen at the residence overnight despite it being boarded up and empty. As officers pulled into the driveway of the residence, they observed three individuals entering a black truck and attempting to flee from the scene. Officers activated their emergency lights. The truck got stuck in the snow and the three occupants, two males and one female, exited the vehicle and fled on foot. The female was caught by police and arrested. A subsequent search of her purse resulted in officers locating approximately 293 grams of suspected methamphetamine, a large sum of Canadian dollars, and paraphernalia consistent with drug trafficking activity.
Officers set up a containment on the residence as there were several people visible inside. Officers called out the occupants. There were seven occupants and all were arrested for Break and Enter.
Blaine Lake RCMP, the North Battleford RCMP Crime Reduction Team, and Saskatchewan RCMP Police Dog Services (PDS) also attended the scene and helped clear the residence.
A search of three vehicles at the scene – two trucks and one car – resulted in officers locating six firearms (one being a sawed-off shotgun), two cans of mace, a large quantity of Canadian dollars, and a cellphone. All three vehicles and items located in them were seized by police for further investigation.
As a result of this investigation, 30-year-old Faith Girourard, of Prince Albert, SK, was arrested and she is facing over 30 firearms-related charges along with Possession for the purpose of Trafficking Methamphetamine, contrary to Sec. 5(2) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and Obstruction of a Peace Officer, contrary to Sec. 129(a) of the Criminal Code.
Girourard is scheduled to appear in court in Prince Albert on January 4, 2023, at 9:30 a.m.
Ahtahkakoop RCMP continue to investigate and are working to locate the two males who were seen fleeing from the truck on foot.
Incidents in Saskatchewan RCMP jurisdiction from December 19, 2022, to January 1, 2023
Please note: the statistics below are representative of reports received within the Saskatchewan RCMP jurisdiction. They are from the RCMP records management system and are accurate as the day they are collected. Crime statistics are regularly updated due to changes in reporting procedures, changes in ongoing investigations, etc. As a result, the statistics below may differ from previous or future published reports.
Divisional Operational Communications Centre (does not include calls for service by the public directly to local RCMP detachments) |
|
Calls for service total | 13781 |
Highest volume of calls for service was on January 1 | 1516 |
Reports of Impaired Drivers (RID calls) | 128 |
Persons Offences (number of incidents, not victims) | |
Homicide | 2 |
Homicides year to date (January, 2022 to last day encompassed in this report) | 42 |
Sexual assaults | 30 |
Sexual crime – other (invitation to sexual touching, sexual interference) | 13 |
Assaults | |
Aggravated Assault | 12 |
Assault | 398 |
Assault with weapon or causing bodily harm | 115 |
Robbery | 5 |
Firearms (use of in the commission of an offence, discharge with intent, pointing a firearm) | 7 |
Kidnapping/forcible confinement | 8 |
Harassment/uttering threats | 169 |
Other persons offences (domestic or family dispute, criminal negligence causing bodily harm, extortion with firearm, mischief – danger to life, etc.) | 60 |
Property Offences | |
Break and Enter Total | 127 |
Number of break and enters to a business | 24 |
Number of break and enters to a residence | 65 |
Number of other break and enters (encompasses sheds, storage containers, unattached garages, etc.) | 38 |
Theft Total | 292 |
Other theft over $5,000 | 59 |
Theft $5,000 or under | 173 |
Number of theft of motor vehicle | 60 |
Mischief | 1086 |
Number of mischief – damage to property | 179 |
Number of mischief – obstruct enjoyment of property (example: unwanted, intoxicated person at a residence) | 905 |
Other Criminal Code Offences | |
Bail violations | 267 |
Breach of probation | 67 |
Failure to appear/comply | 45 |
Disturbing the peace | 282 |
Reports of intimate partner and family violence
|
|
2022 July | |
Intimate partner violence | 421 |
Family violence | 438 |
2022 August | |
Intimate partner violence | 385 |
Family violence | 389 |
2022 September | |
Intimate partner violence | 347 |
Family violence | 361 |
Total intimate partner violence July-September 2022 | 1153 |
Total family violence July-September 2022 | 1188 |
Traffic | |
Impaired-related offences | 175 |
Number of roadside suspensions | 13 |
Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle | 24 |
Speeding (this does not include automated speed enforcement fines issued) | 1531 |
Fines issued | 755 |
Warnings issued (education-focused interaction between police and public) |
776 |
Collisions | 487 |
Dangerous driving | 11 |
Fatal collisions (number of road-going incidents, not victims) | 1 |
Non-offence Codes (generally, instances where Criminal Codes or Provincial/Federal Statutes aren’t broken – for example abandoned vehicles, animal calls, school visits, property or wellbeing checks, etc.) | |
Assistance | 682 |
False alarms | 385 |
Breach of peace | 329 |
911 Act – other activities | 412 |
Suspicious person/vehicle/property | 256 |
Mental health act (generally, police officers responding to reports of persons thinking about suicide, or people with mental illness and requiring assistance): | 415 |
Non-suspicious sudden deaths/Coroner’s Act (Every non-suspicious sudden death police officers respond to including reports of persons who died by suicide, natural, accident or undetermined. Specific breakdowns by cause of death are unavailable.) | 43 |