Saskatchewan RCMP weekly report – February 20-26, 2023

Please note all information below occurred within the time period above, unless otherwise noted.

 Saskatchewan RCMP – Your Provincial Police Service

Our officers are proud to live and work in communities all across the province. Last week, on Saskatchewan RCMP social media channels, we published photos sent in by one of our officers from the Black Lake Detachment as a way to help showcase the beauty of our province. The photo was captioned: A light show on night shift. To date, it has received over 21,000 likes and over 2,800 shares on our English Facebook page alone. We’ve attached the photos you can consider using in your stories. If you would like to see more photos like these, please follow along on our social media channels:

• Facebook: facebook.com/SaskatchewanRCMP | facebook.com/GrcEnSaskatchewan
• Twitter: twitter.com/RCMPSK | twitter.com/GRCSask
• Instagram: instagram.com/rcmpsk | instagram.com/grcensask

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
• Gregory Cope – Battlefords RCMP

 February 19: At approximately 3 p.m., a Nipawin RCMP officer conducted a traffic stop on Nipawin Road East. While checking for license and registration, the officer noticed a strong smell of cannabis coming from the vehicle. The officer asked the driver about the smell, and the driver indicated he had approximately 2.3 kg of cannabis in the vehicle. Investigation determined the driver was not licensed to be in possession of that quantity and was illegally distributing it. The driver consented to a search of his residence in Nipawin, where officers located an additional 1.5 kg of cannabis, scales and plastic bags.

As a result, a 71-year-old Nipawin resident has been charged with possession of more than 30 grams of cannabis in a public place and possession of cannabis for distribution, contrary to the Cannabis Act. He is scheduled to appear in court in Nipawin on April 26, 2023.

Saskatchewan RCMP reminds residents that even though cannabis products are legal in Canada, there are provincial and federal regulations that must be followed when buying, transporting or consuming them. For further information on the Cannabis Act, visit https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/cj-jp/cannabis/.

February 19: Turtleford/Glaslyn RCMP on scene of serious multi-vehicle collision on Highway 3 near Glaslyn, SK

February 21 and 22: Saskatchewan RCMP’s Warrant Enforcement and Suppression Team (WEST) was requested to assist Prince Albert Police Service in the apprehension of two individuals wanted for a 2021 homicide in the City of Prince Albert: https://www.papolice.ca/media-release-third-arrest-in-homicide/

On February 21, Saskatchewan RCMP WEST officers determined one of the suspects was in a residence on Ahtahkakoop First Nation and obtained a warrant to enter it. With the assistance of Saskatchewan RCMP’s Critical Incident Response Team and the Shellbrook RCMP, officers approached the residence and safely arrested 26-year-old Henry Ratt. Ratt was also arrested on warrants for obstructing a peace officer from Spiritwood RCMP and breach of probation from Saskatoon Police Service.

On February 22, 2023, WEST officers determined the other suspect was in a different resident on Ahtahkakoop First Nation. With the assistance of Saskatchewan RCMP’s Critical Incident Response Team and Shellbrook RCMP, officers approached the residence and arrested 25-year-old Keyano Ahenakew several hours later. Ahenakew was also arrested on warrants for failing to comply with a release order from Shellbrook RCMP and obstructing a peace officer from Prince Albert Police Service.

“The excellent collaboration between Prince Albert Police Service, Saskatchewan RCMP WEST, Shellbrook RCMP, and Saskatchewan RCMP’s Critical Incident Response Team resulted in the safe arrest of two individuals wanted for murder, as well as other offences,” says Supt. Glenn Church, the officer in charge of Saskatchewan RCMP’s Saskatchewan Enforcement Response Team (SERT), which WEST is a part of. “This is another example of how seamless partnership helps keep our communities safe.”

Background:

The Saskatchewan RCMP’s Warrant Enforcement and Suppression Team (WEST) supports the apprehension of high-profile offenders and gang members with outstanding warrants. WEST works throughout the entire province, in partnership with municipal police services.

February 21: At approximately 10:30 a.m., officers from the La Ronge RCMP General Investigation Section conducted a traffic stop on Highway 102 at Lamplake Road in the La Ronge District, in relation to an ongoing drug investigation. The vehicle had three occupants: a female driver, a male front passenger, and a male rear passenger. Officers observed a digital scale with what appeared to be white powder in plain view in the back seat of the vehicle next to the rear passenger.  The three occupants were arrested and taken into custody. A search of the rear passenger incidental to the arrest, resulted in officers locating two bundles of a sum of cash wrapped in plastic.

As a result of this investigation, 42-year-old Ambrose Durocher has been charged with Trafficking under Section 5(1) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.

19-year-old Yeina Koladino was charged for Trafficking Section 5(1) CDSA; and Possession of Proceeds of Crime, Section 354(1)(a) of the Criminal Code.

The driver of the vehicle was released with no charges.

Durocher and Koladino are scheduled to make their first appearance in court on March 27, 2023, at 9:30 a.m. in La Ronge.

February 22: At approximately 9:55 a.m., Swift Current Rural RCMP received the report of a break-and-enter into a residence located on the 200^th block of Standard Street in Pennant, SK. Officers responded immediately. Initial information gathered by police indicated a male and female suspect entered the residence and were believed to be armed with a firearm and a knife. There was only one occupant in the residence at the time of the incident, who did not report any injuries to police. Officers were able to obtain information from the initial investigation that led to the possible identification of the two suspects and details of the vehicle used to depart the scene.

At 12:06 p.m., officers issued an Everbridge advisory to notify members in the community of the incident and details of the vehicle to help maintain public safety. Further information gathered by police determined the female suspect was seen at a local trailer park. Additional officers from the Saskatchewan RCMP Trafficking Response Team (STRT), Swift Current Municipal RCMP and RCMP Traffic Services, were called to assist and secured a perimeter around the area. Officers located the two suspects who were both arrested without incident and taken into custody.

A search of a nearby residence resulted in officers locating and seizing stolen property, a shotgun, a knife, and disguises – all involved in the original break and enter report. The suspect vehicle was located that same day, parked on the Northhill Road in Swift Current and was also seized by police. Officers obtained a warrant to search the vehicle.

As a result of this investigation, 37-year-old Ashley Decoste (Information Number: 90475483) and 50-year-old Joseph Denis (Information Number: 90475484) who both currently reside in Kyle, SK, have each been charged with:

• Break and enter using a firearm, contrary to Sec 348(1)(b) of the Criminal Code;
• Intent to commit an indictable offence while masked, contrary to Sec. 351(2) of the Criminal Code;
• Steal while armed with a firearm; use of a firearm to commit robbery, contrary to Sec. 343 and 344 of the Criminal Code; and
• Carry a weapon to commit an offence, contrary to Sec. 88 of the Criminal Code.

Denis has been charged with four additional firearms-related Criminal Code offences in relation to this investigation.

Decoste and Denis are scheduled to appear in court via CCTV on March 1, 2023 at 10:30 a.m.

The investigation is ongoing.

February 23: Yorkton RCMP recover stolen snowmobile; one suspect charged, one wanted on warrant

February 23: Shellbrook RCMP recover stolen hockey memorabilia, snowmobile, trailer and pick-up truck in Shellbrook

February 24: At approximately 5:30 p.m., officers from La Ronge RCMP executed a search warrant under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act at residence located on the 900^th block of Riese Drive, in relation to an ongoing drug investigation. A search of the residence resulted in officers locating and seizing 227 grams of cocaine, 5.5 lbs of dried cannabis, 22 bags of cannabis gummies, cellphones, trafficking paraphernalia and knives. As a result of this investigation, 50-year-old David Inglis, and 26-year-old Alex Spence, of La Ronge, SK, have each been charged with: possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine, Sec. 5(2) of the Criminal Code; possession for the purpose of distributing cannabis, Sec. 9(2) of the Cannabis Act, possession of a dangerous weapon, Sec. 88 of the Criminal Code; and three counts of failing to comply with a release order, contrary to Sec. 145(5)(a) of the Criminal Code. Both Inglis and Spence are scheduled to appear in court on Monday, Feb. 27, 2023, at the La Ronge Provincial Court. Photos of the seized items are attached.

Incidents in Saskatchewan RCMP jurisdiction February, 20 to 26, 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.