The case against a woman charged with obstruction of a police officer as well as weapons and drug trafficking offences continues to be delayed.
Rae Ahenakew, 40, of Mosquito First Nation has had numerous appearances in North Battleford Provincial Court since she was arrested in September 2020 and hasn’t entered an election or plea. She was supposed to enter a plea in February but asked the court for time to get a lawyer.
Ahenakew missed a few court appearances and a bench warrant to hold was issued. She had an appearance in court on July 27. She is now scheduled to enter a plea and election on Aug. 9.
Ahenakew, along with Matthew Greer, 34, and Desiree Hinse, 24, both of Biggar, and Shynia Skeavington, 24, of Mosquito First Nation, were arrested during a traffic stop in North Battleford on Railway Avenue last year.
According to Sgt. Adam Buckingham from the Battlefords RCMP General Investigation Section, the North Battleford Gang Task Force initiated a traffic stop on two vehicles after they noticed the occupants appeared to be interacting with one another. Police didn’t specify what the interaction was but say one of the occupants was known to police and had an outstanding arrest warrant.
Police noticed weapons in one of the vehicles and arrested the four occupants from both vehicles. They searched the vehicles and found a firearm, a Taser, weapons, cocaine, meth and marijuana.
According to court documents, the RCMP were patrolling near McDonalds in North Battleford when they saw a white BMW known to be associated with Matthew Greer who had a warrant out for his arrest. Police then saw the white BMW interact with a truck.
Police tried arresting Greer on outstanding warrants and Hinse locked police out of the vehicle and yelled at them. Hinse put herself in between Greer and an RCMP officer trying to arrest him and continued to yell at police.
Inside the BMW police found a large quantity of cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana. Inside Hinse’s purse, police found a drug scale, cocaine, and a Tazer that looked like a flashlight. At the time, Hinse was on a mandatory prohibition order not to have any weapons for 10 years.
In February, Hinse pleaded guilty to carrying a concealed weapon, possession of a prohibited weapon, obstruction of a peace officer, unlawful possession of a substance, driving while prohibited, and failing to comply with conditions. In March, she was sentenced to a six-month conditional sentence to be served in the community.
Skeavington is charged with possession of cocaine and meth for the purpose of trafficking, possession of a firearm in a vehicle, three counts of failing to comply with a probation order, two counts of failing to comply with conditions of a release order, and two counts of possession of a weapon.
Ahenakew is charged with possession of cocaine and meth for the purpose of trafficking, possession of a firearm in a vehicle, and obstructing a police officer.
Greer is charged with possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and operation of a vehicle while prohibited. His trial begins in North Battleford Provincial Court on Aug. 5.
