May 16 to 22, 2023 was Canada Road Safety Week and Combined Traffic Services Saskatchewan (CTSS) officers from Saskatchewan RCMP and other partner police agencies were out on the road throughout Saskatchewan focussing on curbing dangerous driving behaviours such as impaired driving, distracted driving, speeding and seatbelt misuse.
Throughout the seven-day enforcement campaign, CTSS officers issued:
- 4 Criminal Code impaired charges;
- 43 roadside suspensions for lower-level alcohol and/or drug impairment;
- 1091 speeding tickets, 82 distracted driving tickets and 81 seatbelt tickets;
- 210 invalid vehicle registration tickets;
- 63 invalid driver’s license tickets;
- 193 vehicle defect inspection notices; and
- 2273 warnings.
One notable traffic stop occurred on May 21 on Highway #21 near Pierceland. A Meadow Lake RCMP CTSS officer conducted a traffic stop as a result of an Automated Licence Plate Reader (ALPR) alert regarding a possible unregistered vehicle.
Upon further investigation, the vehicle’s registration was expired by four months and the adult male driver didn’t possess a valid Saskatchewan driver’s licence. The officer observed several cracks obscuring the view out the windshield and the bed of the pickup truck had lawn mowers stacked on top of other items with no tie-down or straps to prevent cargo from falling out of the vehicle.
The driver was ticketed for:
- Drive a motor vehicle without a certificate of registration, Section 57(1)(a), Traffic Safety Act;
- Drive a motor vehicle without a valid driver’s license, Section 32(1), Traffic Safety Act; and
- Drive a vehicle with cargo that is likely to drop, Section 40(2), Highway Traffic Act.
The tickets result in $905.00 in fines. The driver also received a vehicle inspection notice to correct the cracked windshield.
“Although Canada Road Safety Week has concluded for 2023, Saskatchewan RCMP is committed to road safety all year long. We will continue to focus our efforts on eliminating high-risk driving behaviours,” says Sgt. Ian Amundsen, from Saskatchewan RCMP’s Traffic Services. “We thank all drivers and other road users who continue to do their part to help keep the roads we all travel on safe.”
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
- Branden Baptiste – Battlefords Detachment area
- Shequille “Shack” Gamble – Big River Detachment area
- Jesse Dionne – Cumberland House Detachment area
- Merle Wolfe – Onion Lake Detachment area
- Sadie Lameman – Onion Lake Detachment area
- Sheenalyn Sewap – Pelican Narrows Detachment area
- Fritz Chartrand – Yorkton Detachment area
May 30: Battlefords RCMP respond to a serious motor vehicle collision after failing to stop for police
May 31: Saskatchewan RCMP Major Crimes investigate discovery of human remains
May 31: Weyburn/Fillmore RCMP on scene of a serious multi-vehicle collision on Highway 13 near Weyburn, SK
May 31: Beauval RCMP ask the public to report sightings of Braydon Durocher, who may be in La Ronge
June 1: At approximately 4 a.m., Onion Lake RCMP received a report of a break and enter at a residence in Onion Lake. Officers immediately responded. Investigation determined several individuals entered the residence and assaulted an adult male occupant. He was transported to hospital with injuries described as serious but non-life-threatening. The group of individuals then left in a vehicle.
At approximately 8 a.m., an Onion Lake RCMP officer conducting patrols in the area observed the suspect vehicle at a business in Onion Lake. The officer activated their emergency lights and attempted a traffic stop. The suspect vehicle did not stop and continued southbound on Highway #17 and then east on Highway #3, before running out of gas. Officers arrested the four occupants without incident.
31-year-old Jamie Chief from Onion Lake and 23-year-old Darnell Parenteau from Saskatoon are each charged with:
– one count, break, enter and commit, Section 348(1)(b), Criminal Code;
– one count, assault causing bodily harm, Section 267(b), Criminal Code.
Darnell Parenteau is also charged with three counts, fail to comply with probation order, Section 733.1(1), Criminal Code and one count, weapons possession contrary to order, Section 117.01(3), Criminal Code.
They appeared in Lloydminster Provincial Court on June 2, 2023 (Information 90513649, 90513650).
An adult female is charged with one count, flight from police, Section 320.17, Criminal Code. She is scheduled to appear in Lloydminster Provincial Court on July 5, 2023 (Information 90513651).
One occupant was released without charge. The investigation continues.
June 1: Saskatchewan RCMP Major Crimes lay charges in relation to homicide investigation in Stanley Mission
June 1: North Battleford Gang Task Force seize cocaine and lay charges in a drug trafficking investigation
June 1: Swift Current Municipal RCMP: Search warrant execution results in arrest and charges laid
June 1: Biggar RCMP investigate report of armed robbery with firearm, ask public for information
June 4: Outlook/Elbow RCMP received a report of vandalism at the Elbow RCMP detachment. Investigation determined two individuals spray-painted the exterior of the building at approximately 12:30 a.m. that morning. The graffiti contained vulgar, anti-police statements.
The individuals had their heads and faces covered during this incident. Photos of them are attached.
The Outlook/Elbow detachment was vandalized in a similar way on August 21, 2022. The investigation into that incident continues.
If you recognize the individuals in the photos or have information about either vandalism incident, contact Elbow RCMP at 306-854-1830. Information can also be submitted anonymously by contacting Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or www.saskcrimestoppers.com.
Update: The following wanted individuals who were subjects of previous media releases have been located and arrested: Willard Bear (Saskatchewan RCMP WEST); Ramsay Ochuschayoo (Pierceland RCMP); William Chaboyer (Nipawin RCMP); Thorne McKay (Nipawin RCMP; Charlie Chief (Onion Lake RCMP); Alex Dillon (Onion Lake RCMP); Arthur Pass (Yorkton RCMP); Kevin Weber (White Butte RCMP); Michael Bagan (Saskatchewan RCMP FSOC). Saskatchewan RCMP is no longer working to locate Billy Glenold-Fleury as he is no longer on warrant.
Incidents in Saskatchewan RCMP jurisdiction May 29 to June 4, 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 | 8161 |
| Highest volume of calls for service was on June 3, 2023 | 1368 |
| Reports of Impaired Drivers (RID calls) | 85 |
| Persons Offences (number of incidents, not victims) | |
| Homicide | 2 |
| Homicides year to date (January, 2023 to last day encompassed in this report) | 11 |
| Sexual assaults | 21 |
| Sexual crime – other (invitation to sexual touching, sexual interference) | 6 |
| Assaults | |
| Aggravated Assault | 8 |
| Assault | 242 |
| Assault with weapon or causing bodily harm | 72 |
| Robbery | 4 |
| Firearms (use of in the commission of an offence, discharge with intent, pointing a firearm) | 7 |
| Kidnapping/forcible confinement | 4 |
| Harassment/uttering threats | 162 |
| Other persons offences (domestic or family dispute, criminal negligence causing bodily harm, extortion with firearm, mischief – danger to life, etc.) | 34 |
| Property Offences | |
| Break and Enter Total | 92 |
| Number of break and enters to a business | 19 |
| Number of break and enters to a residence | 52 |
| Number of other break and enters (encompasses sheds, storage containers, unattached garages, etc.) | 20 |
| Theft Total | 272 |
| Other theft over $5,000 | 34 |
| Theft $5,000 or under | 188 |
| Number of theft of motor vehicle | 50 |
| Mischief | 711 |
| Number of mischief – damage to property | 194 |
| Number of mischief – obstruct enjoyment of property (example: unwanted, intoxicated person at a residence) | 517 |
| Other Criminal Code Offences | |
| Bail violations | 139 |
| Breach of probation | 31 |
| Failure to appear/comply | 17 |
| Disturbing the peace | 263 |
Reports of intimate partner and family violence
|
|
| January 2023 | |
| Intimate partner violence | 390 |
| Family violence | 437 |
| February 2023 | |
| Intimate partner violence | 349 |
| Family violence | 324 |
| March 2023 | |
| Intimate partner violence | 330 |
| Family violence | 364 |
| Total intimate partner violence October-December, 2022 | 1069 |
| Total family violence October-December, 2022 | 1125 |
| Traffic | |
| Impaired-related offences | 112 |
| Number of roadside suspensions | 11 |
| Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle | 23 |
| Speeding (this does not include automated speed enforcement fines issued) | 1513 |
| Fines issued | 997 |
| Warnings issued (education-focused interaction between police and public) |
516 |
| Collisions | 160 |
| Dangerous driving | 10 |
| 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 | 361 |
| False alarms | 244 |
| Breach of peace | 142 |
| 911 Act – other activities | 280 |
| Suspicious person/vehicle/property | 313 |
| Mental health act (generally, police officers responding to reports of persons thinking about suicide, or people with mental illness and requiring assistance): | 205 |
| 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.) | 14 |