Weapons and ammunition were seized during the arrest of five individuals in a stolen car last week. (submitted photo/RCMP SK Media)

By battlefordsNOW Staff

Theft and pursuit

Gang associates arrested, weapons seized following Lashburn car theft

Nov 27, 2020 | 5:20 PM

Maidstone RCMP collaborated with other law enforcement groups to arrest multiple members of the Westside Outlaws street gang last week, after tracking a stolen car in western Saskatchewan.

Around 3 p.m. on Nov. 20, Maidstone RCMP received a report of a grey Honda car stolen from a business in Lashburn, Sask. by three males wearing red attire. They were last seen fleeing east on Highway 16 in the vehicle, followed by a small red Ford car.

Maidstone units then alerted the Saskatchewan RCMP Roving Traffic Unit (RTU), which was already on the highway southeast of Lashburn. The RTU located the vehicles and followed the stolen grey car, using emergency lights to instruct the stolen grey car to stop. The stolen grey car instead continued east, turned around and travelled west at a high rate of speed.

After it received confirmation the stolen grey car was still in the Lashburn area, Maidstone RCMP mobilized its partners, including the Saskatchewan Protection and Response Team (PRT), the Saskatchewan Highway Patrol on Highway 16 and Lloydminster RCMP. While the stolen grey car was being tracked, the Lashburn Fire Department advised Maidstone RCMP they received a report of a small red car on fire, east of Lashburn on Range Road 3250.

The PRT first saw the stolen grey car travelling west on Highway 16, west of the Marshall Weigh Station, and then east on Kempton Road toward Highway 303. Maidstone RCMP, Lloydminster RCMP, the RTU, and the PRT, in a total of eight cars, decided to spread out and actively patrol an extended rural area around Lashburn.

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Eventually, the vehicle was located near Paradise Hill, approximately 60 kilometres north of Lashburn, travelling west on Highway 3. Law enforcement monitored its movements, working with Onion Lake and Turtleford units, where Turtleford RCMP then deployed a tire deflation device on Township Road 540 at approximately 4:40 p.m.

The stolen car stopped shortly after having turned onto Highway 21 and RCMP officers from Maidstone and Turtleford arrested the five occupants (three male, two female) without incident. A search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of one sawed-off modified rifle, ammunition, a machete, a BB pistol and several knives.

Twenty-two-year-old Tonia Cantel of North Battleford, 21-year-old Juanita Wahpistikwan of Big Island Lake Cree Nation, 21-year-old Kyle Lajimodiere of Cold Lake, Alta., and two male youths, both from Big Island Lake Cree Nation, Sask., have all been charged with 14 criminal offences. These include:

· Stealing a motor vehicle

· Storing a prohibited firearm

· Possessing a weapon for dangerous purpose

· Carrying a concealed weapon

· Possessing a firearm without a licence

· Being in a motor vehicle with an unauthorized firearm

· Possessing a prohibited firearm with accessible ammunition without registration

· Possessing a firearm with an altered serial number

· Endangering the safety of the public

· Flight from peace officer

Tonia Cantell, Juanita Wahapistikwan and Kyle Lajimodiere were wanted for arrest in Saskatchewan and Alberta on various other criminal charges, which they will face at the same time as the 14 new charges. All five accused will remain in custody until they next appear in Lloydminster Provincial Court on December 3 at 2:30 p.m.

Maidstone RCMP members believe the small red car found on fire on Range Road 3250 is the same small red car that was seen following the stolen grey car. The investigation into the red car is ongoing. Anyone with information regarding the ownership, occupants or whereabouts of the vehicle in and around Lashburn on November 20 is asked to contact Maidstone RCMP.

Anyone associated with a gang and want to leave can look for assistance by contacting STR8 UP.

—

johs.ryan@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JoshRyanSports