Skip to content

Accused arrested in fatal Cumberland House standoff appear in court

Residents in a house on Cumberland House Cree Nation exchanged gunfire with RCMP and one man inside the home died

CUMBERLAND HOUSE – Two men arrested in June following an armed standoff at a home on Cumberland House Cree Nation had more court appearances.

Bernie Kadachuk, 20, and Anthony Kadachuk, 24, are back in Cumberland House circuit court Sept. 20 and Sept. 19, respectively. They were in court Sept. 6 and their matters were adjourned to give them time to get legal counsel.

Bernie Kadachuk and Anthony Kadachuk and are facing weapons-related and drug trafficking offences. Twenty-five-year-old Gage Pratt was also arrested and charged with possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

On June 2, Cumberland House RCMP had gone to a home at 133 Pemmican Portage Avenue after they learned that a man wanted on a warrant for assaulting a peace officer was in Cumberland House Cree Nation. Police contained the home, evacuated nearby homes, locked down the Nisto Awasisak Memorial School and issued an emergency public alert.

The RCMP Critical Incident Response Team was called in to assist. The CIRT is a group of highly-trained police officers who use advanced technology and negotiation skills to assist in the resolution of critical incidents as safely as possible.

Three men exited the home and were arrested. But people still inside the home started shooting and exchanged gunfire with police.

Almost two hours later, a fourth man exited the home and was arrested without incident. He was taken to the hospital for an unrelated medical condition.

RCMP CIRT officers entered the home and found an injured 22-year-old man from Prince Albert. Emergency medical care was provided by RCMP officers with advanced medical training. He was taken to hospital by EMS where he was declared deceased. The Moose Jaw Police Service conducted an independent, external investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.

Police say that during their investigation they found a restricted firearm and a quantity of cocaine. 

Click for more from Crime, Cops and Court. 

#CrimeCopsCourt_SKTODAY

ljoy@glaciermedia.ca