NORTH BATTLEFORD – The North Battleford RCMP Gang Task Force has arrested a man wanted for a crime spree in Lloydminster, Maidstone, Poundmaker Cree Nation, Maymont, Biggar and the Battlefords detachment areas since April. They located 34-year-old Dennis Kennedy on July 15.
Kennedy will appear in North Battleford Provincial Court Monday to face numerous charges. He is charged with robbery, theft, three firearms-related offences, failing to comply with a release order, dangerous driving, assault with a weapon on a police officer, resisting arrest, identity fraud, and two counts of possession of property over $5,000 obtained by crime.
RCMP previously arrested Kennedy’s co-accused, 48-year-old Leonard Wuttunee. He is charged with robbery with a firearm, seven weapons-related offences, flight from police, and possession of property over $5,000 obtained by crime.
In connection to the Maidstone and Battlefords incidents, 44-year-old Veronica Whitford from Battleford was charged with robbery, recklessly discharging a firearm, mischief, flight from police, and possession of the proceeds of crime over $5,000.
RCMP say that Kennedy's offences occurred in the Lloydminster, Maidstone and North Battleford Detachment areas from April 30 to July 15.
On May 14, a grey F-350 Super Duty Ford truck with Saskatchewan license plate 720 KBF was reported stolen out of North Battleford. The same day, just before midnight, Maidstone RCMP responded to report of an armed robbery at a home in Maidstone. Two men wearing ski masks and a woman demanded money from those at the home. When they left the residence, one of them shot a bullet into the air. There were no injuries reported to police. Officers responded immediately and observed the F-350 fleeing the area. Maidstone RCMP advised surrounding detachments to be on the lookout for the truck.
On May 15, at about 10 p.m., Cut Knife RCMP officers were patrolling on Poundmaker Cree Nation when they spotted the truck and tried to stop the vehicle but the driver fled at a high rate of speed and evaded police.
On May 16, at approximately 2:30 a.m., Battlefords RCMP found the truck on 110th Street in North Battleford and tried to pull it over. The driver sped off.
About 12 hours later, on May 16, Biggar RCMP received a report of shots fired at a rural property in the RM of Glenside. Police say the truck drove into the yard and a group of men tried stealing diesel from a tractor. The suspects discharged a firearm when fleeing the property. Biggar RCMP immediately patrolled the area for the truck but it wasn’t found.
Sask. RCMP had issued a Crime Watch Advisory for Biggar RCMP detachment area on May 16 at 3:41 p.m. saying "vehicle has rammed police, suspects are armed." In a media release on May 17, however, RCMP said that it was a Battlefords RCMP police vehicle that was rammed.
The officers weren’t injured but the police vehicle was damaged to the point of being inoperable. The truck was located on Highway 4 and officers once again attempted a traffic stop, but the driver fled.
Then, the night of May 16, Warman RCMP got a report of a fuel theft in Maymont potentially involving the suspect truck. Soon after, they received a report the truck was observed leaving a gas station on the Yellowhead Highway near Radisson. Officers patrolled the area, located the truck on Highway 16 near the Borden Bridge and attempted a traffic stop. The truck fled. Officers conducted extensive patrols. The truck wasn’t located.
The next day, at about 8:10 p.m. on May 17, Battlefords RCMP got a call about an assault on Moosomin First Nation. Police say an altercation occurred between a man and a woman and a firearm was discharged, injuring the woman. She was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The man took off in the truck.
About three-and-a-half hours later, Battlefords RCMP Gang Task Force found the grey Ford F-350 Super Duty Truck and tried stopping the vehicle. It didn’t stop and continued driving on local roads, several fields, then on to Terrirtorial Drive in North Battleord. It came to stop in a ditch and two occupants were arrested without incident. A third fled on foot. Officers patrolled the area and arrested an individual a short time later. This individual was later released without charge.
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