On December 21, 2022 at approximately 2:30 a.m., La Ronge RCMP received a report of an attempted robbery on Highway #165.
Officers immediately responded. Investigation determined a group of individuals were driving on the highway and came across a disabled SUV. A male waved them down and when they stopped to help, he and another male pointed a firearm at them and ordered them out of their vehicle. They did not exit their vehicle and were able to drive away. The occupants didn't report any physical injuries.
Officers began patrolling the area and located four individuals, two walking on the highway and two in a disabled SUV that was in the ditch, and arrested them. Officers searched the scene and located a gun safe in the vehicle and eight firearms hidden in the snow. Further investigation determined the safe and guns were reported as stolen earlier that night from a residence in La Ronge. A photo of the firearms is attached.
Evan Rain, 28, of Paul First Nation, is charged with:
- one count, robbery, Section 344, Criminal Code;
- one count, have face masked with intent to commit an indictable offence, Section 351(2), Criminal Code;
- eight counts, possess a firearm knowing it was obtained by the commission of an offence, Section 96(2), Criminal Code;
- one count, possession of property obtained by the commission of an offence, Section 354(1)(a), Criminal Code;
- one count, mischief under $5,000, Section 430(4), Criminal Code;
- sixteen counts, possess a firearm while prohibited, Section 117-01(3), Criminal Code; and
- one count, point a firearm, Section 87(2), Criminal Code.
Taza Spyglass, 31, of North Battleford, is charged with:
- eight counts, possess a firearm knowing it was obtained by the commission of an offence, Section 96(2), Criminal Code; and
- one counts, possession of property obtained by the commission of an offence, Section 354(1)(a), Criminal Code.
Wayne McLeod, 22, of La Ronge, is charged with:
- one count, robbery, Section 344, Criminal Code;
- one count, have face masked with intent to commit an indictable offence, Section 351(2), Criminal Code;
- eight counts, possess a firearm knowing it was obtained by the commission of an offence, Section 96(2), Criminal Code; and
- one count, possession of property obtained by the commission of an offence, Section 354(1)(a), Criminal Code.
Cool Water Standinghorn, 21, of Moosomin First Nation, is charged with:
- eight counts, possess a firearm knowing it was obtained by the commission of an offence, Section 96(2), Criminal Code; and
- two counts, possession of property obtained by the commission of an offence, Section 354(1)(a), Criminal Code.
McLeod and Rain were unlawfully at large and had Canada-wide warrants for breaching the conditions of their statutory releases.
The four accused are scheduled to appear in La Ronge Provincial Court on December 22, 2022.