Police arrest impaired driver; child in back seat sitting on toolbox

Weekly Report: Monday, January 23 to Sunday, January 29, 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:

• 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

January 25: At approximately 2:35 p.m., Kamsack RCMP received a report of an armed male at a residence on The Key First Nation. Officers immediately responded. The male had already left the residence when they arrived and further investigation determined he was in another residence in the community. With the assistance of Saskatchewan RCMP’s Critical Incident Response Team, officers contained the residence and negotiated with the male, who surrendered to police without incident at approximately 8:40 p.m. Officers executed a search warrant at the residence and located and seized a firearm. As a result of investigation, 60-year-old Lyman Papequash from The Key First Nation is charged with:

– one count, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, Section 88, Criminal Code;

– one count, enter a dwelling with intent to commit an indictable offence, Section 349(1), Criminal Code;

– one count, resist/obstruct peace officer, Section 129(a), Criminal Code;

– one count, unlicensed possession of a firearm, Section 92(1), Criminal Code;

– one count, possession of a firearm while prohibited, Section 117.01(1), Criminal Code; and

– one count, fail to comply with release order condition, Section 145(5), Criminal Code.

He is scheduled to appear in court in Kamsack on February 2, 2023. The investigation continues.

January 25: Three additional individuals charged in 2020 homicide of Wesley Custer

January 26: Saskatchewan RCMP’s Warrant Enforcement and Suppression Team asks the public to report sightings of wanted males: Braden Ballantyne and Willard Bear.

January 26: As part of an ongoing investigation into drug trafficking in the Stanley Mission area, La Ronge RCMP’s General Investigation Section planned to execute a search warrant at a residence on Settee Street in Stanley Mission. As they approached the residence, two individuals attempted to leave the property in a vehicle. The vehicle sideswiped a police vehicle, then got stuck in the snow. The occupants were then arrested. A third individual was located in a shed on the property and arrested. During subsequent investigation, officers located and seized approximately six grams of cocaine, a small amount of psilocybin, a sum of cash, drug trafficking paraphernalia, two firearms, three replica firearms, and a number of machetes and knifes.

As a result of the investigation, 44-year-old Tom Cook from La Ronge is charged with:

– one count, possession for the purpose of trafficking, Section 5(2), Controlled Drugs and Substances Act;

– one count, possession of property obtained by crime less than $5,000, Section 354(1)(a), Criminal Code;

– one count, unauthorized possession of a firearm, Section 91(1), Criminal Code; and

– two counts, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, Section 88(2), Criminal Code.

48-year-old Joseph Cook from Stanley Mission and 38-year-old Gail Bradfield from La Ronge are each charged with:

– one count, possession for the purpose of trafficking, Section 5(2), Controlled Drugs and Substances Act;

– one count, unauthorized possession of a firearm, Section 91(1), Criminal Code;

– two counts, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, Section 88(2), Criminal Code; and

– one count, unsafe storage of a firearm, Section 86(2), Criminal Code.

They are scheduled to appear in La Ronge Provincial Court on January 30, 2023.

January 27: Yorkton RCMP asks the public to report sightings of wanted male, Ryan Mulligan

January 27: At approximately 11:40 p.m., an officer from the Saskatchewan RCMP’s Roving Traffic Unit stopped a truck in Cut Knife. Investigation determined the adult male driver was impaired and he was arrested. There were three passengers in the vehicle, including a six-year-old child. The back seat of the truck was folded up and the child was sitting on a toolbox and folded-up clothing, and was not wearing a seatbelt (see attached photo of the back seat). Officers arranged for the child to be picked up by another adult.

 “This was a very dangerous situation – an impaired driver and a small child not properly secured in a car seat or with a seatbelt. By conducting this traffic stop, the officer removed a huge risk from the road – and was able to ensure this little one was safe,” says S/Sgt. Chad McLeod, North District commander of Saskatchewan RCMP’s Combined Traffic Services Saskatchewan.

The 34-year-old driver was charged with impaired operation of a conveyance and operation of a conveyance over 80 mg%. The vehicle was also impounded for thirty days.

January 30: As part of an ongoing investigation, Pelican Narrows RCMP executed a search warrant at a residence in Pelican Narrows. Officers located and seized approximately 51 grams of methamphetamine, a sum of cash and trafficking paraphernalia. As a result, 26-year-old Theresa Linklater from Pelican Narrows is charged with one count, possession for the purpose of trafficking, Section 5(2), Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and one count, fail to comply with undertaking condition, Section 145(4)(a), Criminal Code. She will appear in court in Pelican Narrows on January 31, 2023

January 30: At approximately 4:45 a.m. Meadow Lake RCMP received a report of shots fired on 2^nd Avenue East in Meadow Lake. Officers immediately responded. No one was in the area and there was no evidence or reports of any injuries. Further investigation determined a dark coloured vehicle was seen leaving the area at a high rate of speed. Continued investigation has determined this was a targeted incident and officers continue to investigate. Anyone with information should contact Meadow Lake RCMP at 306-236-2570. Information can also be submitted anonymously by contacting Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or www.saskcrimestoppers.com.

Incidents in Saskatchewan RCMP jurisdiction from January 23 to 29, 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.