Two Whitefish men facing numerous firearms offences have pleaded not guilty and their trials are set.
Henry Ratt, 23, and Larry Durocher, 36, were arrested Oct. 19, 2019, by Big River RCMP after trying to evade police.
RCMP officers noticed a red-coloured Chevrolet Monte Carlo driving slow and all over the road. They tried to stop the vehicle but it accelerated at a high rate of speed and fled the area. Police didn’t pursue.
Just a short distance away, however, police noticed marks on the road they believed to be consistent with a vehicle turning at a high rate of speed. They followed the marks that led to a dirt road and found the Monte Carlo with four people in the vehicle.
One person fled but was arrested a short time later by the North Battleford Police Dog Service.
Inside the vehicle police seized a sawed-off 12-gauge shotgun with 20-gauge ammunition, a .308 calibre bullet, a machete, knives, four cell phones, a baton, masks, zip ties and $2,895 in cash.
Ratt’s trial is scheduled in Whitefish circuit court on April 17. Durocher’s trial starts on Feb. 14 in Whitefish circuit court. Both Rats and Durocher are still in custody.
Jerry Stewart Netmaker, 39, and Kelsey Lee Lachance, 23, were in the vehicle and arrested and charged with traffic offences.
Police are still looking for the final occupant of the vehicle, according to Saskatchewan RCMP media relations.
Lisa Joy, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Battlefords Regional News-Optimist