PRINCE ALBERT — After fleeing from a suspect with a firearm, two people lost in the Prince Albert forest were rescued by RCMP using a drone, snowmobiles and police dog services. Now, police are searching for the man suspected of forcing them into the forest at gunpoint on Jan. 7.
Prince Albert RCMP are asking the public to report sightings and any information on the whereabouts of suspect Justin Charles. A warrant has been issued for his arrest.
On Jan. 7 at about 3 a.m., Prince Albert RCMP received a report of a male being chased by an individual with a weapon in the RM of Buckland. They determined that an altercation had occurred between two males and a female in a vehicle, that one of the males assaulted the others and took them into a forested area at gunpoint. Police say the gun was discharged but the victims were not injured. They fled further into the forest to get away from the suspect and became lost.
Police deployed a drone to locate the male. While speaking to him on the phone they gave verbal instructions on how to exit the forest using the compass on his phone and the spotlight on the drone to light his path and guide him out safely. Police add they also activated their vehicle lights and sirens as a guidance aide.
RCMP brought the police dog services unit in to help find the female victim. Police say ground searches, guided by the aerial view from the drone, led to officers locating the female victim in an SUV in a remote location in the RM of Prince Albert. They were then able to use snowmobiles to reach her and safely get her to an ambulance.
The male and female were transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Thirty-year-old Justin Charles from Prince Albert is charged with:
- two counts, assault;
- one count, pointing a firearm;
- one count, carrying concealed weapon;
- one count, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose;
- one count, unauthorized possession of a prohibited weapon/restricted weapon;
- one count, discharge firearm while being reckless;
- one count, operation while prohibited;
- one count, negligence causing bodily harm; and
- one count, possession of a firearm/weapon/device/ammunition in motor vehicle.
He is described as:
- Height: 6’0”
- Weight: 220 lbs
- Eye colour: brown
- Hair colour: black
If you see Justin Charles, do not approach him. Report all sightings and information on the whereabouts of Justin Charles to Prince Albert RCMP by calling 310-RCMP. Information can also be submitted anonymously by contacting Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or www.saskcrimestoppers.com.
