Onion Lake RCMP arrest multiple street gang members and seized several firearms after a vehicular pursuit on January 1. (submitted photo/RCMP)

By battlefordsNOW Staff

Street gang arrests

Five arrested following vehicle pursuit in Onion Lake

Jan 6, 2021 | 11:33 AM

Five members of streets gangs were arrested following a pursuit by Onion Lake RCMP

, thatinvolved police being fired upon.

Around 2 p.m. on January 1, police received a report from a rural area west of Onion Lake Cree Nation (OLCN) that a black SUV smashed through the fence of a residence. RCMP located the vehicle traveling on Highway 17 at a high rate of speed and followed.

Officers pursued the vehicle while being shot at, as one individual pointed a long-barreled firearm from one of the SUV windows.

The vehicle eventually stopped in front of the new OLCN High School and two males fled on foot. Two RCMP officers chased the males, while others arrested three remaining passengers, one male and two females. The pursuing officers located and arrested the fleeing suspects on a nearby baseball field and inside a garbage bin. All five of the arrested individuals were identified as street gang associates, police say.

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Several weapons and supplementing ammunition was recovered from the vehicle. (RCMP SK Media)

A search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of two SKS rifles, one sawed-off shotgun, one sawed-off 22-caliber rifle and different types of ammunitions. Saskatchewan RCMP Inspector Joshua Graham, who oversaw the incident as the officer in charge of operations for Central Saskatchewan, said the incident is a reminder that policing is dangerous, while praising the work of the members involved.

“Every day, I see several examples of good policing like this across our province,” he said. “Where our officers are successful at stopping a threat while controlling the risks and ensuring officer and public safety.”

Thirty-nine-year-old Twaine Derek Buffalo, 37-year-old Glynnis Larene Chief and 35-year-old Tyler Ryan Wolfe from Onion Lake Cree Nation Saskatchewan, and 38-year-old Danny Lee Weeseekase from Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation have all been charged with the following seven criminal offences:

• Discharge of a firearm with intent to endanger life
• Assault of a police officer with a weapon
• Being an occupant of a motor vehicle knowing there was a firearm
• Careless use of a firearm
• Possession of a firearm without a licence
• Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose
• Possession of a prohibited weapon

Thirty-two-year-old Melissa Lee McAlpine, from Lloydminster, Saskatchewan also faces the first three charges the other suspects face. Wolfe has two additional charges, flight from police and dangerous driving, while Weeseekase is charged with breach recognizance of weapon possession.

All five accused will remain in custody until they next appear in Lloydminster Provincial Court on January 20 at 10 a.m.

—

josh.ryan@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JoshRyanSports