Please note all information below occurred within the time period above, unless otherwise noted.
Saskatchewan RCMP - Your Provincial Police Service
Investigative Recap
November 29: After responding to an initial report of an assault at a residence, officers located the male suspect in a vehicle stuck in a ditch approximately 15 kilometres west of Pierceland. The male suspect was arrested. During a subsequent search of the vehicle, officers located and seized approximately 900 grams of suspected crystal methamphetamine and drug trafficking paraphernalia.
As a result of this investigation, Justin Skulte, 33, of Cold Lake, AB, was charged with one count, possession for the purpose of trafficking a controlled substance, Section 5(2), Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. He is currently remanded and appeared in court in Meadow Lake on Dec. 1st. Through further investigation, 30-year-old Tessa Urlacher has also been charged with one count, possession for the purpose of trafficking a controlled substance, Section 5(2), Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. The investigation is ongoing.
December 1: From Dec. 1 to 3, Estevan RCMP assisted with maintaining traffic safety along Highway 39, approximately 2 km west of Macoun, SK, following a train derailment. Estevan RCMP also assisted with evacuating residents in the community and patrolling the perimeter of the evacuation zone to ensure no one crossed into it. Officers received no reports of injuries to residents in the area or members of the CP Rail crew. The highway was closed for over 40 hours and opened around 4 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 3. Estevan will not be providing further updates on this incident. Please contact CP Rail for further inquiries.
December 1: Second person charged in relation to homicide investigation
December 1: Saskatchewan RCMP Major Crimes: male charged with second degree murder
December 2: Waskesiu RCMP executed a search warrant at a residence on Montreal Lake Cree Nation, with the assistance of Saskatchewan RCMP Police Dog Services. Officers located and seized approximately 30 grams of methamphetamine, firearm components, a sum of cash and drug trafficking paraphernalia. Two individuals were arrested at the residence. Cedric Bird, 38, of Montreal Lake was arrested on an outstanding warrant from Waskesiu RCMP. Hailey Okemow, 21, of Montreal Lake Cree Nation is charged with:
- one count, possession for the purpose of trafficking, Section 5(2), Controlled Drugs and Substances Act;
- one count, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, Section 88(2), Criminal Code;
- one count, weapons possession contrary to order and fail to surrender authorization, Section 117.01(3), Criminal Code;
- one count, unauthorized possession of a firearm, Section 91(3), Criminal Code;
- one count, possession of a firearm knowing possession is unauthorized, Section 92(3)(a), Criminal Code; and
- one count, possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000, Section 354(1)(a), Criminal Code
Okemow was also arrested on an outstanding warrant from Prince Albert Police Service. Both Bird and Okemow are scheduled to appear in Prince Albert Provincial Court on December 5, 2022.
December 2: Saskatchewan RCMP WEST locate and arrest male wanted for manslaughter
December 2: At approximately 12:30 p.m., Maple Creek RCMP received a report from Medicine Hat Police Service (MHPS) that a stolen vehicle was in their detachment area. MHPS investigation determined an orange Chevrolet Sonic hatchback/car, reported stolen from the City of Medicine Hat, was travelling northeast of Maple Creek with two occupants. Maple Creek RCMP immediately began looking for the vehicle and also sent a notification through the Saskatchewan Crime Watch Advisory Network to local residents.
A rural resident received the notification and soon after, observed the vehicle enter his yard. He called the police, who responded and arrested the occupants without incident. A 30-year-old male from Regina and a 36-year-old male from Cupar are each charged with one count, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, Section 354(1)(a), Criminal Code; and one count, fail to comply with release order condition, Section 145(5)(a), Criminal Code. The 36-year-old is also charged with one count, fail to comply with probation order, Section 733.1(1), Criminal Code; and one count, uttering threats, Section 264.1(1)(a), Criminal Code. They are scheduled to appear in Maple Creek Provincial Court on January 12, 2023.
Have you signed up for the Saskatchewan Crime Watch Advisory Network? Saskatchewan RCMP detachment commanders use it to send credible, accurate and timely Crime Watch Advisories to residents via a mobile messaging application, text messages, emails or phone calls. When residents have this information, they're in a better position to provide tips and information to their local RCMP – just like in this Maple Creek RCMP investigation. Sign up by visiting saskcrimewatch.ca or downloading the Everbridge app to your phone.
December 3: Ponteix RCMP were patrolling area roads as part of National Impaired Driving Enforcement Day. At approximately 4 p.m., an officer observed a vehicle travelling 158 km/hr in a 100 km/hr zone and stopped it. Subsequent investigation determined the 37-year-old male driver was impaired by alcohol. He had two young children in the car with him. He was arrested and charged with one count, impaired operation of a conveyance, Section 320.14(1)(a) of the Criminal Code; and one count impaired operation while over the legal limit, Section 320.14(1)(b) of the Criminal Code. The vehicle was towed and impounded for 30 days. Officers ensured the children were safe until a sober adult arrived.
Ponteix RCMP – and all Saskatchewan RCMP detachments – will be conducting proactive patrols and check stops this holiday season. If you drink alcohol or consume cannabis, make plans for a ride home or stay where you are until it's safe to drive. If you see a suspected impaired driver, pull over and call 911.
December 4: At approximately 7:20 p.m., Kamsack RCMP received a report of a vehicle-pedestrian collision on Highway #8 on Cote First Nation. Initial investigation determined an SUV struck a pedestrian who was walking on the road. The pedestrian, a 31-year-old male from Cote First Nation, was declared deceased by EMS at the scene. His family has been notified. The SUV driver remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators. The investigation continues with the assistance of a Saskatchewan RCMP Collision Reconstructionist. If you have information about this collision or saw the male walking on or around Highway #8 before 7:20 p.m., please call Kamsack RCMP at 306-542-5560.
December 4: At approximately 7:40 a.m., Saskatoon RCMP received the report of a serious collision approximately 1.6 km west of Elstow, SK, on Highway 16. Initial investigation determined an SUV was travelling east on Highway 16 before the collision with a CP Rail train occurred. The driver, a 43-year-old female from Warman, SK, was declared deceased on scene by EMS. Her next of kin have been notified. No injuries to the CP crew were reported to police. Emergency responders in attendance included the CP police, local fire department and EMS, and an RCMP Traffic Collision Reconstructionist. The Saskatchewan Coroners Service also attended and ordered an autopsy. The highway was closed and traffic was rerouted from approximately 7:45 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The investigation is ongoing.
Melfort RCMP investigating report of stolen skid steer: On October 31, 2022, Melfort RCMP received a report of a stolen skid steer. Investigation determined the skid steer was stolen from a business in Kinistino sometime between Friday, October 28 and Monday, October 31, 2022. A photo of the skid steer is attached. Melfort RCMP continue to investigate and ask anyone with information about this theft to call 306-752-6420. Information can also be submitted anonymously by contacting Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or www.saskcrimestoppers.com.
Incidents in Saskatchewan RCMP jurisdiction November 28 to December 4, 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.
Divisional Operational Communications Centre (does not include calls for service by the public directly to local RCMP detachments)
| Calls for service total | 6065 |
| Highest volume of calls for service was on December 3, 2022 | 1025 |
| Reports of Impaired Drivers (RID calls) | 64 |
| Homicide | 1 |
| Homicides year to date (January, 2022 to last day encompassed in this report) | 39 |
| Sexual assaults | 13 |
| Sexual crime - other (invitation to sexual touching, sexual interference) | 7 |
Assaults
| Aggravated Assault | 3 |
| Assault | 155 |
| Assault with weapon or cauing bodily harm | 50 |
| Robbery | 2 |
| Firearms (use of in the commission of an offence, discharge with intent, pointing a firearm) | 2 |
| Kidnapping/forcible confinement | 3 |
| Harassment/uttering threats | 91 |
| Other persons offences (domestic or family dispute, criminal negligence causing bodily harm, extortion with firearm, mischief – danger to life, etc.) | 14 |
| Break and Enter Total | 74 |
| Number of break and enters to a business | 10 |
| Number of break and enters to a residence | 44 |
| Number of other break and enters (encompasses sheds, storage containers, unattached garages, etc.) | 19 |
| Theft Total | 168 |
| Other theft over $5,000 | 26 |
| Theft $5,000 or under | 107 |
| Number of theft of motor vehicle | 35 |
| Mischief | 464 |
| Number of mischief - damage to property | 91 |
| Number of mischief - obstruct enjoyment of property (example: unwanted, intoxicated person at a residence) | 373 |
| Bail violations | 143 |
| Breach of probation | 25 |
| Failure to appear | 18 |
| Disturbing the peace | 125 |
Reports of intimate partner and family violence
- Time period reported is quarterly.
- Data represents number of victims, as there may be more than one victim on a specific investigative file. An individual victimized more than once in a timeframe would be counted more than once. Due to common relationship types in intimate and family violence categories, totals should not be combined.
- Intimate partner refers to violence committed by spouses (legally married, separated, divorced and common-law), current and former dating partner, or someone with whom the victim was in another type of intimate relationship.
- Family violence refers to violence committed by spouses (legally married, separated, divorced and common-law), parents (biological, step, adoptive and foster), children (biological, step, adopted and foster), siblings (biological, step, half, adopted and foster) and extended family members (grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins and in-laws).
| July 2022 | |
| Intimate partner violence | 421 |
| Family violence | 438 |
| August 2022 | |
| Intimate partner violence | 385 |
| Family violence | 389 |
| September 2022 | |
| Intimate partner violence | 347 |
| Family violence | 361 |
| Total intimate partner violence July-September, 2022 | 1153 |
| Total family violence July-September, 2022 | 1188 |
| Impaired-related offences | 79 |
| Number of roadside suspensions | 14 |
| Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle | 17 |
| Speeding (this does not include automated speed enforcement fines issued) | 1122 |
| Fines issued | 634 |
| Warnings issued (education-focused interaction between police and public) | 488 |
| Collisions | 243 |
| Dangerous driving | 2 |
| Fatal collisions (number of incidents, not victims) | 1 |
Non-offence Codes (generally, instances where Criminal Codes or Provincial/Federal Statutes aren't broken – for example abandoned vehicles, animal calls, school visits, property or wellbeing checks, etc.)
| Assistance | 268 |
| False alarms | 162 |
| Breach of peace | 132 |
| 911 Act – other activities | 189 |
| Suspicious person/vehicle/property | 135 |
| Mental health act (generally, police officers responding to reports of persons thinking about suicide, or people with mental illness and requiring assistance): | 187 |
| Non-suspicious sudden deaths/Coroner's Act (Every non-suspicious sudden death police officers respond to including reports of persons who died by suicide, natural, accident or undetermined. Specific breakdowns by cause of death are unavailable.) | 31 |