MEADOW LAKE – A 26-year-old man from Waterhen Lake First Naiton, wanted by Saskatchewan RCMP in connection with a shooting, was arrested in Alberta and will face his Saskatchewan charges at a later date.
Christopher Ernest remains in custody as he awaits court appearances in both provinces.
“Christopher Ernest was arrested in Alberta and has charges before their courts,” said Saskatchewan RCMP in an email on Aug. 1. “His Saskatchewan charges will now be dealt with at a later date.”
Ernest was arrested in Sherwood Park, Alta., on July 5. He keeps getting arrested and released only to rack up more charges in both Alberta and Saskatchewan each time he is released.
On June 23, Saskatchewan RCMP had released Ernest’s photo, along with Brandon McCallum’s photo, to the public saying they were wanted for a shooting on Waterhen Lake First Nation. Meadow Lake RCMP had responded at about 2 a.m. on June 22. Their investigation determined there was an altercation between a group of individuals. A firearm was discharged, injuring an adult male. The adult male was treated in the hospital for injuries described as non-life-threatening in nature.
Both Ernest and McCallum were charged with carrying a weapon for a dangerous purpose, with Ernest facing an additional charge of discharging a firearm with intent and McCallum charged with assault with a weapon. McCallum was arrested by Beauval RCMP on June 28 and remains in custody.
Ernest was arrested in Sherwood Park, Alta., on July 5. On that day, Alberta RCMP charged him with two counts of possession of a controlled substance, possession weapon for a dangerous purpose, obstructing a peace officer, four counts of fail to comply with release order, and fail to hold a valid driver’s license, driving an unregistered vehicle/trailer. He Appears in Alberta Sherwood Park Court of Justice on Aug. 13 on those charges.
Additionally, Ernest faces outstanding charges in Calgary dating back to November 2023, including possession of property over $5,000 and obstructing a peace officer. An additional charge of fail to appear in court was later added. His Calgary Court of Justice appearance is set for Aug. 8.
This marks the latest in a series of arrests for Ernest. In March 2024, Meadow Lake RCMP and the Crime Reduction Team located him at a home in Beauval, where officers seized a loaded firearm, ammunition, about 28 grams of cocaine, and trafficking paraphernalia. At the time, he was wanted by Correctional Service Canada and in connection with a separate February 2024 incident where a man was allegedly threatened with a firearm on Waterhen Lake First Nation.
Ernest had also previously escaped custody. In April 2021, while appearing in Meadow Lake Provincial Court on weapons and assault charges, he fled but was later apprehended in Edmonton and returned to Saskatchewan.
