NORTH BATTLEFORD — Three men have been charged after the theft of a delivery truck in North Battleford.
On Dec. 28, at approximately 5:30 p.m., say Battlefords RCMP, they received a report of a robbery on the 1400 block of 109th Street.
RCMP say their investigation determined two males approached a delivery driver who was parked in a vehicle. They threatened the driver with a firearm, forced them out of the vehicle, then stole it. The driver did not report any physical injuries.
Officers responded and began patrolling for the suspects. Later that evening, officers from the Battlefords Gang Task Force located the stolen vehicle parked behind a residence on the 1200 block of 108th Street in North Battleford. The vehicle left the residence, but got stuck in the snow in an alley. Officers approached the three male occupants, who were trying to dig out the vehicle, but they fled on foot.
Two were arrested after a brief foot chase, say RCMP, and the third was located at a nearby residence. An illegally-modified firearm was also located and seized in the residence during a search the occupants consented to.
Marlon Wuttunee, 21, from Wilkie, is charged with:
- robbery with firearm;
- possession of firearm in a motor vehicle;
- discharge a firearm while being reckless;
- possession of a weapon for dangerous purpose;
- possession of a prohibited firearm while unauthorized;
- possession of a prohibited weapon with ammunition;
- possession of firearm contrary to order;
- resist arrest;
- possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000; and
- fail to comply with release order.
August Nahbexie, 25, of Sunchild First Nation, Alta., is charged with:
- robbery with firearm;
- resist arrest; and
- possession of property obtained by crime over $,5000.
Justin Poitras, 28, of North Battleford is charged with:
- resist arrest;
- possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000; and
- fail to comply with probation order.
The three accused were also arrested on outstanding warrants from Battlefords RCMP: Poitras and Wuttunee for failure to attend court and Nahbexie for failure to comply with an undertaking.
The three accused were scheduled to appear in North Battleford Provincial Court on Jan. 30.
Battlefords RCMP’s Gang Task Force, Battlefords Municipal General Investigation Section and Battlefords Forensic Identification Services assisted in this investigation.
“Battlefords RCMP will not tolerate violence toward citizens of our community. This was a frightening incident and I am thankful no one was injured,” says Insp. Jesse Gilbert, Officer in Charge of Battlefords RCMP. “I’m proud of the swift response by the officers of our detachment and our Battlefords Gang Task Force, which resulted in the arrest of three suspects just a short time later.”
Battlefords RCMP continues to investigate and asks that anyone who witnessed or has information about this incident call their local RCMP detachment by dialling 310-RCMP. Information can also be submitted anonymously by contacting Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or www.saskcrimestoppers.com.
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