RCMP have charged three people in association with a Jan. 26 incident in Ashmont, where two men wearing dark clothes and balaclavas entered a residence and robbed the occupants at gunpoint.
According to the RCMP release, the men entered the residence, which is joined to Ashmont’s convenience store, during the evening and held the occupants at gunpoint. The suspects tied up the victims and stole a significant amount of cigarettes, tobacco products, and American, Canadian and Korean currency, which included a collection of rare and unique coins. Before leaving, the suspects also stole video surveillance recording equipment.
A third suspect waited in a vehicle for the other two suspects and all three escaped before the victims could free themselves and call police, according to the RCMP press release.
After a comprehensive investigation, police executed a search warrant on a motel room in St. Paul and recovered cigarettes, tobacco and currency, including the coins identified as missing by the victims.
RCMP have since arrested and charged two men and a woman, all from British Columbia, with robbery using a firearm, forcible confinement, disguise with intent, breaking and entering, assault with a weapon, uttering threats and possession of property obtained by crime.
A report of gunshots during a community gathering in Saddle Lake ended up resulting in a car chase between a suspect and RCMP that covered nearly 70 km before the suspect lost control and collided with the pursuing police vehicle.
St. Paul RCMP responded to a complaint of gunshots at the gathering during the early morning hours of Jan. 30, according to an RCMP press release. RCMP were nearby and witnessed the suspect vehicle driving away erratically. Police attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver continued, resulting in the pursuit that ended only with the crash. RCMP arrested both occupants in the suspect vehicle without incident; all the parties involved only suffered minor injuries.
An 18-year-old male from Saddle Lake has been charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, flight from police, various weapons offences related to a firearm, possession of property obtained by crime and failure to comply with a recognizance.
