NORTH BATTLEFORD — Saskatchewan RCMP’s North Battleford Crime Reduction Team-Gang Task Force (CRT-GTF) – with the assistance of Saskatchewan RCMP’s Critical Incident Response Team – executed three search warrants in North Battleford as part of an ongoing drug trafficking investigation.
On Oct. 25 at approximately 5:30 a.m., Saskatchewan RCMP’s North Battleford CRT-GTF and Critical Incident Response Team executed a search warrant at a residence on 107 Street in North Battleford. While at the residence, officers located a man in a garage. The man presented a firearm, pointed it at a police officer, and then fled into the residence. The firearm was not discharged, and the officer was not physically injured. The man was arrested at the residence. Four additional men and two women were also arrested.
That same day, Saskatchewan RCMP officers from the two specialized units executed search warrants at a residence on 107 Street and two vehicles on 108 Street in North Battleford.
Collectively, during the search of the two residences and vehicles, officers located and seized approximately 176 grams of cocaine, three firearms, two replication firearms, a crossbow, body armour, bear spray, and drug trafficking paraphernalia.
As a result of continued investigation, a 38-year-old suspect from North Battleford, is charged with:
- 19 counts, weapons possession contrary to order;
- one count, assault on police officer;
- three counts, careless use of a firearm;
- three counts, possession of a firearm when knowing possession unauthorized;
- one count, possession of a restricted firearm/prohibited weapon with ammo without licence/registration;
- three counts, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose;
- one count, pointing a firearm; and
- one count, possession for the purpose of trafficking – cocaine.
A 24-year-old suspect from North Battleford, is charged with:
- one count, fail to comply with undertaking condition;
- two counts, weapons possession contrary to order;
- one count, careless use of a firearm;
- one count, possession of a firearm when knowing possession unauthorized;
- one count, possession of a restricted firearm/prohibited weapon with ammo without license/registration;
- one count, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose; and
- one count, possession for the purpose of trafficking – cocaine.
Three men and two women were later released without charge.
The two accused appeared in North Battleford Provincial Court on Oct. 27.
“Using targeted investigative tactics, officers from two specialized RCMP teams identified several search locations tied to an active drug trafficking investigation,” said S/Sgt Kory Davidsen, the acting senior investigative officer with Saskatchewan RCMP’s Saskatchewan Enforcement Response Team, in the release. “These teams’ skills and training continue to make a difference in public safety, removing illegal drugs and firearms from the streets.”
