Five people face criminal charges following a report of a firearm pointed outside a home in northern Saskatchewan and a subsequent police pursuit that ended in a collision with a cruiser.
La Loche RCMP received a report around 5:40 p.m. on Nov. 1 that a man had pointed a firearm at an individual outside a residence in the community. Police say the firearm was not discharged and no injuries were reported by the victim.
Investigating officers learned the suspects had fled in a vehicle. Police located the vehicle in La Loche shortly after and attempted a traffic stop with emergency equipment activated, but the driver failed to pull over and headed south on Highway 155.
Officers followed the vehicle until it turned onto a trail and stopped suddenly, causing the trailing police vehicle to collide with it.
Police arrested all five occupants at the scene and seized a firearm, a magazine, and ammunition from inside the vehicle. One officer received medical treatment for non-life-threatening injuries sustained during the collision, while none of the vehicle’s occupants reported injuries.
Michael Petit, 50, of Buffalo Narrows, Dino Woodward, 39, of Turnor Lake, Aaron Herman, 38, of La Loche, Keirstin Eldridge, 23, of Buffalo Narrows, and Jaycee Cheecham, 34, of La Loche have all been charged with unauthorized possession of a firearm and flight from a peace officer.
Petit faces a series of additional charges, including pointing a firearm, assault with a weapon, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, uttering threats, resisting a peace officer, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, three counts of weapons possession contrary to an order, and two counts of failing to comply with a probation order.
Herman faces additional counts of weapons possession contrary to an order and two counts of failing to comply with a release order.
All five accused made their first court appearance on Nov. 5. Petit and Herman remain remanded in custody until their next scheduled court appearance in La Loche on Nov. 23.w