An obscured licence plate ultimately led to the Corman Park Police Service (CPPS) being involved in a significant public safety investigation involving prohibited weapons on Friday, June 26.
At approximately 1 p.m. that afternoon, a CPPS officer conducted a traffic stop on a black GMC Sierra travelling on Highway 16 near Township Road 374. (According to a road map, that would be just northwest of Saskatoon.)
As stated by a CPPS release, the vehicle’s licence plate was covered in mud and could not be read.
During the stop, the CPPS constable noticed that an infant child in the vehicle did not appear to be properly secured in her car seat. As part of the officer’s road safety response, the member offered to show the parents how to properly secure the child, and the occupants agreed.
However, when the member opened the rear door, he was immediately confronted with what appeared to be a firearm in plain view under the back seat, positioned beside a machete.
“What had begun as a compassionate roadside safety check had, in an instant, become a firearms investigation,” the release states.
The CPPS officer requested assistance and a supervisor, who is recognized as a firearms expert, attended the scene. The supervisor determined the gun under the seat was a .22 calibre firearm.
The male occupant of the vehicle was subsequently arrested for possession of a firearm contrary to a lifetime firearms prohibition order issued in 2021.
A further search of the vehicle led to the recovery of a large quantity of cannabis and unstamped tobacco. During a search of the accused, the police also found a Karambit knife on their person.
The accused was transported to the Martensville RCMP detachment, where he was processed and fingerprinted. He was later released on an appearance notice to attend provincial court in Saskatoon in August.
In addition to the original charge of possessing a firearm contrary to a prohibition order, he is also facing charges relating to the possession of cannabis and unstamped tobacco.
The other seized items such as the machete remain subject to investigation.
“This investigation is a reminder that routine traffic traffic enforcement is an important part of community safety,” the release states.
These photos provided by the Corman Park Police Service (CPPS) shows the firearm, machete and other items seized during a traffic stop on June 26 along Highway 16 near Township Road 374.