NORTH BATTLEFORD - Two people are facing charges following police arrests after a dramatic police take-down in North Battleford yesterday evening.
On Jan. 8 at approximately 6 p.m., Saskatchewan RCMP officers with the North Battleford Crime Reduction Team – Gang Task Force (CRT-GTF) received a report that a suspect with active warrants related to an ongoing Saskatoon Police Service investigation was travelling in the North Battleford area.
RCMP North Battleford CRT-GTF and Police Dog Services (PDS) officers located the adult male at a business on Railway Ave East in North Battleford. While the individual was in the business, officers blocked the suspect vehicle to prevent him from fleeing in it.
When the individual exited the business, officers informed him he was under arrest. The individual resisted arrest, fled from officers and climbed onto the roof of an unrelated vehicle in the parking lot. The civilian occupant was safely removed from the vehicle. They did not report any physical injuries to police.
Officers attempted verbal de-escalation techniques with the suspect, however the individual was uncooperative and remained on the roof of the vehicle.
Officers deployed a 40mm extended range impact round and a conducted energy device concurrently. The individual fell from the vehicle and was arrested by RCMP North Battleford CRT-GTF, PDS and Battlefords Detachment officers.
The individual was assessed by EMS at the scene. He was then transported to hospital where he was evaluated by medical staff and deemed fit to be released back into RCMP custody and held at Battlefords Detachment.
Officers searched the vehicle the suspect was driving and seized a conducted energy device, a small amount of methamphetamine and other evidence of drug trafficking, forged documents and unstamped tobacco.
As a result of investigation, a 35-year-old man, of La Loche, is charged with:
- one count, possession for the purpose of trafficking – methamphetamine;
- one count, possession of a prohibited/restricted weapon;
- two counts, resisting/obstructing peace officer; and
- two counts, fail to comply with probation order.
A second adult male – a passenger in the vehicle the suspect was driving – was arrested at a nearby business. As a result of investigation, a 42-year-old man, from Île-à-la-Crosse, is charged with:
- one count, possession for the purpose of trafficking – methamphetamine;
- one count, possession of a prohibited/restricted weapon;
- one count, possession of stolen property under $5,000;
- two counts, use/traffic/possess a forged document; and
- one count, identity theft.
Both suspects are scheduled to make their first appearance in North Battleford Provincial Court on Jan. 10.
