A large scale arrest has also resulted in Saskatchewan’s first COVID-19 related charges under the provincial Public Health Act.
In the early morning on March 27th, Loon Lake RCMP responded to call of a suspicious person knocking at the door of a home in the area. After receiving a description of the suspect and vehicle, police were able to determine that it was an alleged stolen GMC SUV.
With the help of several other RCMP detachments, they tailed the SUV, which refused to stop, north on Grid Road 699. A bag was also thrown from the window, which police claim was full of guns.
While in pursuit, several people attempted to jump from the vehicle and were arrested one by one. The vehicle then went into the ditch and the rest of the suspects were caught on foot. Police also allegedly recovered more guns, drugs and stolen property.
As a result, 11 people are facing charges, including five from Lloydminster and Onion Lake. Bianca Lasas, Dedrick Stick, Megan Lewis, Loewen Wolfe and Lorrin Wolfe are all facing several charges, including theft, assault on a police officer, weapons and dangerous driving related to the chase.
Due to the fact that eleven people were arrested, exceeded the maximum of ten people groupings in the Saskatchewan Public Health Act, they are considered the first arrest under this law during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Seven of the accused, including Stick, Loewen Wolfe and Lorrin Wolfe have all be remanded and will appear in Meadow Lake Provincial Court March 30th.
While four others, including Lasas and Lewis, have been released, they will be in 24-hour self-isolation for 14 days, in accordance with the current health protocols. They will also need to report to Healthlink 8-1-1 if they develop symptoms of COVID-19. They are set to appear July 2 or July 23 at the Loon Lake Provincial Court.