LLOYDMINSTER – A man arrested by RCMP as he left the Lloydminster courtroom had another court appearance scheduled on Aug. 8 and is due back in court Sept. 12 and Lloydminster Saskatchewan court put 37-year-old Nathan O’Brien's case into warrant status.
O’Brien is charged with four firearms offences from Feb. 26, as well as firearms offences dating back to 2020.
O’Brien is also accused of having a handgun in the 4400 block of 32 Street in Lloydminster, without permission. He was licensed to own the handgun. Court documents also show that between Dec. 1, 2020, and January 17, 2022, in Lloydminster, Sask., O’Brien allegedly transferred a handgun knowing he wasn’t authorized to do so, and having lost or had stolen from his possession a handgun failed to report the loss to the police, firearms officer or chief firearms officer.
The charges against O'Brien haven't been tested in court.
O’Brien was arrested on March 30 and released on bail on March 31. He was arrested again on April 11 as he left the courtroom, and granted bail, again, on April 14 without a bail hearing after appearing in court by phone from the correctional centre. His bail conditions stipulated that he reside in Lloydminster, Sask., keep a 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. curfew, and not have any contact with Delaney Angus, Laquita Angus, and five others.
Raids in Waseca and Lloydminster
On March 2, the Saskatchewan RCMP issued a media release saying that they raided three places on Feb. 26 – two in Lloydminster and one in Waseca. Police said that in October 2021, the Battleford RCMP Gang Task Force began an investigation into drug and weapons trafficking in west-central Saskatchewan, which led to the three search warrants.
Police said they seized nine firearms, multiple prohibited weapons, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, hard body armour, about four ounces of cocaine, four ounces of methamphetamine, 250 ml of GHB, and two stolen vehicles.
Saskatchewan RCMP arrested Laquita Angus, 25, and Delaney Angus, 18, both of Lloydminster, after the search warrants were executed in Lloydminster.
Saskatchewan RCMP also said that as a result of the search warrant in Waseca, three people were arrested including Odell Angus, 20, who was wanted on warrants by Turtleford RCMP. He was charged with breaching release conditions. Police said the RCMP Gang Task Force investigation was ongoing and they weren’t releasing further information, including the name of the other two individuals arrested.
Trent Angus shot, killed by RCMP
After police executed the search warrant at the commercial building in Waseca at 11:45 p.m. Feb. 26, Trent Angus was shot and killed by RCMP Feb. 27.
A Saskatchewan RCMP officer was also struck in the head by a bullet. The officer - a member who works in the Saskatchewan RCMP’s Police Dog Services unit - was treated in hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.
Alberta RCMP say they arrested O'Brien
On April 12, the Lloydminster, Alta., RCMP issued a media release saying that Nathan O'Brien of Lloydminster, Sask., was arrested following an investigation into firearms trafficking. They said that on Feb. 26 they executed a search warrant at two Lloydminster homes and allegedly found several firearms and ammunition stored unsafely inside. O'Brien was arrested March 30 and granted bail the next day.
Story updated to reflect that Nathan O'Brien is in warrant status
