Four-year prison term for accused who prompted dangerous persons alert

By Lisa Joy SASKTODAY.ca

A man who was charged after Spiritwood RCMP issued a dangerous persons alert is headed to prison.

On Thursday in North Battleford Provincial Court, 32-year-old Shane Witchekan was sentenced to four years in prison on a robbery charge. The remaining 11 weapons and breach offences were stayed. With credit for time served in pre-trial custody, Witchekan had 1,122 days left to serve as of April 20.

Shane Witchekan and his brother, Kelly Witchekan, were arrested after a person was robbed at gunpoint on Sept. 2, 2022. They were charged with assault with a weapon, having a sawed-off .22 rifle, and prohibited firearms related offences.

On Sept. 2, 2022, at ap- proximately 12:51 a.m., Spiritwood RCMP had received a report of shots fired on Witchekan Lake First Nation. Witnesses told police that a man in a grey Pontiac was shooting at a driver in a white Ford vehicle. While officers investigated the incident later that day, a vehicle fled from police. Two occupants abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot into the bush. With the as-

Maidstone RCMP seize fentanyl, meth and cocaine

SASKTODAY.ca

Two people were arrested after Maidstone RCMP seized a significant amount of fentanyl, crystal methamphetamine and cocaine following a traffic stop.

Gurpreet Singh, 20, and Prince Sharma, 21, were both charged with three counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking, fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine. Sharma was additionally charged with three counts of failing to comply with release conditions.

Police say on the evening of April 21, they performed a roadside stop on Highway 16 near Maidstone. The roadside stop was initiated for a licence, registration and sobriety check. While speaking with the two men in the vehicle, the officer became suspicious that the occupants were in possession of illegal drugs. The two were detained for a drug investigation. Through this investigation, it was discovered that the passenger was breaching previous release conditions. sistance of Police Dog Services (PDS) and the RCMP Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT), a 31-yearold Dallas Sakebow of Witchekan Lake First Nation was arrested.

The officer believed that the passenger was in possession of illegal drugs. The passenger was arrested and when police searched the vehicle they found 3.3 kilograms of fentanyl, seven kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, and one kilogram of cocaine.

The two appeared in Lloydminster Provincial Court Monday and were remanded in custody. They appear again on May 18.

Officers from the Spiritwood Detachment, along with additional RCMP resources including RCMP Police Dog Services (PDS) and the RCMP CIRT, assisted with locating more individuals involved.

On Sept. 5, 2022, at about 7:30 a.m., Spiritwood RCMP received a report of a stolen black Nissan SUV. About two hours later, Spiritwood RCMP got a call that people in a black Nissan SUV had stolen gas from a gas station in Leoville. All occupants were reported to be wearing masks. Police received another report stating an occupant of a black Nissan SUV shot a firearm in the direction of a resident in the neighbourhood. The resident left the scene with no reported injuries. ljoy@glaciermedia.ca

All available officers from the Spiritwood RCMP along with additional RCMP resources including PDS, ERT and CIC, were called to locate the black Nissan SUV and RCMP issued a dangerous persons emergency alert to all residents in the Witchekan Lake First Nation and surrounding areas, urging them to seek immediate shelter.

Shane Witchekan was also charged in March 2022 after Spiritwood RCMP officers saw two suspicious vehicles outside a home on Witchekan Lake First Nation. Police obtained a search warrant and raided the home. They seized seven firearms, three prohibited weapons, 32.5 grams of suspected crack cocaine, 23.5 grams of suspected methamphetamine, 105 grams of an unknown substance, drug trafficking paraphernalia and cash.

In the March 2022 incident, the charges against Shane Witchekan were stayed in Spiritwood circuit court.

On March 6, 2022, Spiritwood RCMP located two suspicious vehicles outside a home on Witchekan Lake First Nation. As a result of their investigation, four men were arrested and a search warrant was executed on the home. Police seized seven firearms, three prohibited weapons, approximately 32.5 grams of suspected crack cocaine, 23.5 grams of suspected methamphetamine, 105 grams of an unknown substance under investigation, drug trafficking paraphernalia, and a sum of cash. The charges against Shane Witchekan in this incident were stayed. | Photo courtesy RCMP