Saskatchewan RCMP: on duty in your community - Monday, August 15 to Sunday, August 21, 2022, inclusive

Please note all information below occurred within the time period above, unless otherwise noted.

Saskatchewan RCMP - Your Provincial Police Service

On August 17, members of the Saskatchewan RCMP attended the Honouring our Sisters & Brothers 18th Annual Memorial Walk opening ceremony at the MMIWG2S Sisters in Spirit Memorial at the riverbank in Prince Albert. The event, organized by the Prince Albert Grand Council Women's Commission, honours the lives of Indigenous women, men and LGBTQ2S persons who have gone missing or whose lives have been tragically lost due to violence. S/Sgt. Brian Kelly from Saskatchewan RCMP's Indigenous Policing Services spoke at the ceremony. "A while ago, I placed a missing person's poster in the bottom of my hat for Happy Charles (who has been missing since 2017). Happy belongs to the same band as my family in La Ronge. I did this as a constant reminder to not forget about all the Missing and Murdered Indigenous persons," he said. "We can never forget. It's important that we continue to gather and keep honoring these people. We stand here, alongside you, to honor those who have lost their lives and those who have yet to come home."

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Did you know Saskatchewan RCMP detachments provided more than 38,000 criminal record and vulnerable sector checks to residents in 2021? Back-to-school is one of the busiest times of year for these checks and Saskatchewan RCMP would like to remind residents of the following:

Saskatchewan RCMP detachments conduct criminal record checks, which determine if you have been convicted with a crime, as well as vulnerable sector checks, which is a police information check but also determines if you've received a record suspension (pardon) for a sexual offence.

Vulnerable sector checks can only be conducted if you are working or volunteering in a position of trust or authority with children or vulnerable persons.

Please call ahead to see when your local police detachment conducts checks. Some have specific hours they accept applications.

When you visit your detachment, bring two pieces of government-issued ID, one with a photo. If you require a vulnerable sector check, you must also bring a personalized letter from the business/organization you'll be working with, explaining the nature of your position and the children or vulnerable persons you'll be working with.

Your detachment will use your name and birthdate to check the RCMP's Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) system, as well as local records management systems. In some cases, you may be asked to provide fingerprints to confirm your identity.

If you have any questions about the process, call your local police service. If you live in Saskatchewan RCMP jurisdiction, you can find your local detachment here: https://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/detach/en/find/SK

Investigative Recap

• August 11: At approximately 6:30 p.m., officers from Saskatchewan RCMP's Roving Traffic Unit stopped a vehicle on Highway #1 near Swift Current. As a result of investigation, officers located and seized approximately 20,000 illegal cigarettes from the truck. As a result, Kelly Hodgson, 62, of Swift Current, is charged with one count, possession of tobacco for the purpose of selling, Section 121.1(1), Criminal Code; one count, unlawful importation, Section 58(1), Tobacco Tax Act; and one count, possession of unstamped tobacco, Section 32(1), Excise Act. He will appear in Swift Current Provincial Court on September 28, 2022.
• August 16: On August 16, 2022, Pierceland RCMP executed a search warrant at a residence on 1 Street West in Pierceland, as part of an ongoing investigation. Officers located and seized approximately 13.5 grams of crystal methamphetamine divided into small packages, approximately 2 grams of cocaine, approximately one gram of crack cocaine and trafficking paraphernalia. One adult male was arrested at the residence. Ted Lefebvre, 57, of Pierceland, is charged with one count, trafficking, Section 5(1), Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and one count, possession for the purpose of trafficking, Section 5(2), Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. He will appear in court in Pierceland on September 20. "This seizure removes more than a hundred points, or doses, of methamphetamine from our area," says Cpl. David Horton, acting commander of the Pierceland RCMP. "Pierceland RCMP are committed to maintaining the safety of our local communities by targeting those who intend on introducing dangerous illicit drugs into them."
• August 16: Spend a Day with an RCMP Recruiter: Over 60 high schoolers from across Sask. got to try the RCMP uniform on for size (so to speak)!
• August 17: Saskatchewan RCMP continue to seek public assistance in locating wanted male
• August 17: At approximately 12:50 a.m., Cut Knife RCMP were called to assist EMS with an adult male who sustained an injury from a gunshot wound while in his home. Upon arrival, officers located a 65-year-old victim who was being treated for his injury by EMS. The victim was transported to a hospital in North Battleford for non-life-threatening injuries. Investigation determined two males attended the resident's home looking for gas. The two males entered the home and one of them discharged a firearm at the resident. Both males departed the scene in an unidentified vehicle.

With assistance from North Battleford General Investigative Services (GIS), Unity RCMP, and community members, an adult male was identified on August 20^th, as the individual responsible for discharging the firearm. On August 20, 2022, 23-year-old Dryden Bugler from Saskatoon, was located at a residence on Little Pine First Nation. He is charged with one count, aggravated assault, Section 268(2), Criminal Code; and one count, discharge firearm with intent, Section 244, Criminal Code. Bugler is scheduled to appear in North Battleford Provincial Court on August 22. Efforts to locate the other male involved in the incident is ongoing.

• August 18: Saskatchewan RCMP warn about recent text message scam with threats to personal safety
• August 19: At approximately 6 a.m., Prince Albert RCMP received a report of a single vehicle rollover on the southbound lanes of Highway #11, approximately one kilometre south of Macdowell. There were four people in the vehicle. One was transported to hospital by STARS with serious injuries. Three were transported to hospital with injuries described as non-life-threatening. Prince Albert RCMP continue to investigate with the assistance of a Saskatchewan RCMP collision reconstructionist.
• August 19: At approximately 4:30 p.m., Onion Lake RCMP received a report of a residential break-in. Investigation determined that between 11:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. that day, four firearms were stolen from the residence. Later on August 19, officers arrested a 16-year-old male youth from the area and charged him with one count, break, enter and steal a firearm, Section 98(1)(b), Criminal Code. On August 20, 2022 at approximately 9:15 p.m., Onion Lake RCMP received a report of an unwanted individual at a residence. Investigation determined the individual was in possession of a firearm and fled the residence.

With the assistance of Lloydminster RCMP Police Dog Services, the individual was located and arrested in a nearby forested area. Officers seized the firearm, which was one of the firearms reported as stolen the previous day. As a result, a male youth from the area is charged with: two counts, fail to comply with release order, Section 145(5)(a), Criminal Code; one count, breach of a youth order, Section 137, Youth Criminal Justice Act; one count, possession of property obtained by crime, Section 354(1)(a), Criminal Code; one count, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, Section 88, Criminal Code; one count, unlicensed possession of a firearm, Section 92(1), Criminal Code; one count, possession of a firearm obtained by the commission of an offence, Section 96(a), Criminal Code; and one count, fail to comply with release order, Section 117.01(1), Criminal Code.

The youths cannot be identified as per the Youth Criminal Justice Act. Onion Lake RCMP continue to investigate.

• August 21: Shortly before 7:00 p.m., officers from Melfort and Tisdale RCMP responded to a report of a male being run over by a vehicle on the James Smith Cree Nation. Officers made immediate patrols and located an injured 37-year-old male who was being given first aid by local first responders. The injured male was transported to hospital by STARS for what are reported to be serious injuries. The vehicle and driver were not located at the scene and officers began immediately patrolling the area to locate them. A short time later the 38-year-old female driver was arrested. As a result of this investigation Deborah Burns was charged with one count, operation of motor vehicle while impaired causing bodily harm, Section 320.14(2), Criminal Code; one count, operation while impaired, Section 320.14(1)(a), Criminal Code; one count, failure to stop after accident, Section 320.16(1), Criminal Code; and one count, fail to comply with probation order, Section 733.1(1), Criminal Code. She will make her first court appearance in Melfort on October 3, 2022 at 9:30 a.m.
• August 21: at approximately 12:20 p.m., Southey RCMP received a report of a deceased individual in the water at Saskatchewan Beach. The deceased male was recovered from the water and investigators began working to identify the adult male. Investigators remained on scene as they conducted the investigation. Shortly after 8:00 p.m. on August 21, Southey RCMP received a report of an abandoned vehicle in a parking lot near Saskatchewan Beach. Officers have confirmed the vehicle belonged to the deceased, a 49-year-old male from Regina. His family have been notified of his death. Southey RCMP, along with the Saskatchewan Coroners Service, continue to investigate this sudden death.
• August 21: At approximately 9:10 p.m., Maple Creek RCMP received a report of a fuel theft from a business in their detachment area. The vehicle fled but was located at a business on Highway #1 by Swift Current Rural RCMP. Officers conducted a traffic stop and as a result of investigation, arrested the 21-year-old female driver for impaired driving. There were several other occupants in the vehicle, including a three-year-old child. While officers were investigating, another occupant of the vehicle got into the driver's seat and drove away. Officers suspected the driver to be intoxicated and immediately began attempts to locate the vehicle with the assistance of Moose Jaw Police Service, Regina Police Service and White Butte RCMP. At approximately 3 a.m., White Butte RCMP located the vehicle at a business on Highway #1 in White Butte. They blocked the vehicle in to ensure it wouldn't flee and arrested the adult occupants. The child was confirmed to be safe.

The investigation continues and charges are pending.

Incidents in Saskatchewan RCMP jurisdiction August 15 to 21, 2022

Please note: the statistics below are representative of reports received within the Saskatchewan RCMP jurisdiction. They are from the RCMP records management system and are accurate as the day they are collected. Crime statistics are regularly updated due to changes in reporting procedures, changes in ongoing investigations, etc. As a result, the statistics below may differ from previous or future published reports.

Calls for service total	7789
Highest volume of calls for service was on August 20, 2022	1486
Reports of Impaired Drivers (RID calls)	85