LA RONGE — A 25-year-old man wanted by La Ronge RCMP in connection with a shooting earlier this month, has a prior conviction for driving straight towards police officers at high speed.
Sampson Myles Roberts is now wanted on charges of discharging a firearm with intent, robbery, driving while prohibited, possession of a firearm when knowing possession unauthorized, and two counts of possession of weapons contrary to a court order.
Those charges stem from an incident on June 11. At approximately 2:45 p.m., La Ronge RCMP received a report of a shooting on Bird Place. Their investigation determined an altercation occurred between two men outside a home. During the altercation, shots were fired and the second man was injured. The armed suspect then fled in a car he took from the scene. The victim was taken to hospital by EMS with injuries described as serious, but not life-threatening.
The next morning, on June 12, La Ronge RCMP located and recovered the vehicle Roberts was believed to have been driving. He has not been found.
Roberts has multiple prior convictions. In April 2024, he was sentenced to 425 days for dangerous driving, driving while being pursued by a police officer, and driving while prohibited.
Those charges stemmed from a May 16, 2023, robbery on Mikisew Drive, where several people forced a woman from her vehicle and stole it. She wasn’t physically injured. La Ronge RCMP found the stolen vehicle on Far Reserve Road and attempted a traffic stop, but Roberts fled at a high speed through neighbourhood streets where pedestrians were present.
During the pursuit, Roberts drove straight towards two police officers in a marked police vehicle before veering away at the last minute. No one was injured and no vehicles were damaged.
Roberts also pleaded guilty in a separate incident and received a 180-day consecutive sentence for assault, along with 180-day concurrent sentences for obstructing a police officer, possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm, and driving while prohibited.
In October 2021, he was sentenced to one year in jail for weapons offences in two separate incidents. In one of those cases, La Ronge RCMP charged him with six firearm-related offences after receiving a complaint of shots fired at a home on Bells Point Road on Lac La Ronge Indian Band.
Roberts is approximately 5-foot-7 and 145 pounds. He has brown eyes and brown hair.
If you see Sampson Roberts, do not approach him. Report all sightings and information on the whereabouts of Sampson Roberts to La Ronge RCMP by calling 310-RCMP. Information can also be submitted anonymously by contacting Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or Crime Stoppers.
ljoy@sasktoday.ca
