Police in the Battlefords helped stop a fleeing vehicle from Saskatoon, while dealing with multiple vehicle thefts in the region. (File photo/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By battlefordsNOW Staff

Highway spikes

RCMP Report: Battlefords RCMP help Saskatoon police end highway pursuit

Feb 24, 2022 | 2:42 PM

Last week, members of the Battlefords RCMP detachment helped stop a fleeing vehicle from a reported robbery in Saskatoon.

Officers got the call shortly before midnight on Feb. 17, with the suspect vehicle traveling west on Highway 16. Members were able to deploy a spike belt successfully on the vehicle near Denholm and after it was stopped the suspect was taken into custody.

Sgt. Neil Tremblay said it’s not new for the detachment to assist when a vehicle coming out of Saskatoon is fleeing the Saskatoon Police Service (SPS).

“Generally it’s going to a more elevated situation,” Tremblay said. “But when there’s a flight from SPS, we’re often notified if it’s in our direction.”

Sixty-three-year-old Darrell Grodesky was held in custody and appeared in North Battleford court on charges of flight from police, possession of stolen property, dangerous driving, and driving while prohibited. He is also expected to be facing additional charges from SPS.

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Other arrests from the week included a 44-year-old from Edmonton on Feb. 19, on charges of impaired driving, dangerous driving, failing to stop after a collision and obstruction, as well as 37-year-old Fabian Moosomin, who was arrested and charged with flight from police, resisting arrest and identity fraud on Feb. 17.

Lastly, an attempted vehicle stop on Pioneer Avenue early in the morning on Feb. 19 led to the arrest of a 44-year-old male. The original driver of the stolen vehicle has not yet been found.

Assault arrest

Of the 417 calls for service for the Battlefords detachment, one of their 14 assault investigations resulted in the arrest of 18-year-old Carter Smith.

On Feb. 18, police received a report of an incident at a residence on the 1800 block of 93^rd Steet. The female victim’s ex-partner allegedly forced his way into her home and would not allow her to leave or call for assistance. The accused then reportedly assaulted the victim, threatened her and damaged some property before finally leaving the residence. She had minor injuries but didn’t require medical attention, while the accused was located later that evening, arrested without incident and held for court.

Smith was already facing charges from a previous incident between himself and the victim. Along with failing to comply with a release order related to that, he now faces charges of assault, forcible confinement, uttering threats and breaking and entering.

Police are still looking into an incident from Feb. 21, where an unknown male attempted to assault two males with bear mace near 10^th Avenue and 103^rd Street. The suspect deployed the mace but missed and fled on foot towards the railway tracks.

Tremblay said the witnesses were unable to provide much information aside from the suspect wearing a blue jacket and goggles and at this time it appears to be random.

“It was at nighttime and happened pretty quick,” he said. “There’s no idea yet on what the person’s intent was, but if you’re running up to random people and using bear mace, that’s obviously a concern.”

Vehicle thefts pick up during cold spell

Police handled 10 vehicle theft reports last week. Tremblay said there’s a possible connection between some of the incidents and attributed the increase to the cold snap. In at least one incident, a vehicle was left running outside and a grey van pulled up, a passenger got out and promptly took off in the stolen vehicle.

“People have to realize, it’s not just people walking around that might steal,” Tremblay said. “People might drive by just looking for running vehicles.”

The RCMP are still looking for:

• A blue 2002 Chevrolet Impala (Sask License 466-LWB) reported stolen from the 1400 block of 100^th Street on Feb. 18.
• A green 2000 Volkswagen Jetta (Sask License 558-LYB) stolen from the 700 block of 100^th Street sometime from Feb. 19-22.
• A silver 2010 Toyota Camry (Sask License 438-MMQ) reported stolen from the 1100 block of 108^th Street on Feb. 22.
• A blue 2002 Honda Accord (Sask License 265-MHL) reported stolen from the 1400 block of 102^nd Street sometime in the week prior to Feb. 16.
• A grey 2000 Buick Lesabre (Sask License 514-MJX) reported stolen from the 1100 block of 106^th Street on the afternoon of Feb. 22.
• A red 1997 Ford Ranger (Sask License 548-LGW) reported stolen from Borden Crescent Feb. 21.

Other calls include 17 Mental Health investigations, five break and enters, four missing persons reports (none active), seven traffic collisions, 42 various traffic charges and one individual charged with impaired driving.

Anyone with information on any incident can call the Battlefords RCMP or Crime Stoppers.

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cjnbnews@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW