Two would-be good Samaritans became victims of armed robbery Saturday morning after they stopped to help at the scene of a rolled SUV on Highway 16 east of Saskatoon.
Instead of gratefully accepting assistance the occupants of the SUV produced a gun and proceeded to steal the vehicle of the two woman offering assistance, according to Saskatoon RCMP.
The two women fled into the bush and hid. They were not harmed, but police say they were extremely traumatized by the incident.
Five people from the Battlefords and surrounding First Nations have been charged with multiple serious criminal offences in a wide-ranging incident that began with an armed robbery in Clavet early Saturday morning evolved into a pursuit involving three RCMP detachments and the Saskatoon Police Service.
Two adults and three youths were arrested in North Battleford later that day after abandoning a stolen vehicle on the south side of the city and fleeing on foot.
Saskatoon RCMP responded to the robbery in Clavet at 2:50 a.m. Police say a firearm was used during a robbery at the victim’s residence.
Police say the suspects left the scene and a short time later the stolen SUV the suspects were operating rolled near Highway 16. After stealing the vehicle of the women who stopped to help they continued toward Saskatoon on Highway 16.
According to RCMP, a Saskatoon RCMP Detachment member and the Saskatoon Police Service members located and pursued the suspects through to the north end of the city on Highway 16. Two attempts were made to stop the vehicle with spikes.
RCMP Warman Detachment also teamed up with Saskatoon Police Service in the pursuit, and a spike belt was deployed on Highway 16. The suspect vehicle again avoided the spike belt.
After the five suspects abandoned their second stolen vehicle in North Battleford, four were immediately apprehended. A short time later the fifth suspect, a 21-year-old man was arrested with the assistance of the Saskatoon Police Service canine unit.
Police say two adult men, two male youths ages 15 and 16 and one 16-year-old female youth were arrested.
Saskatoon RCMP report that no one other than the suspect apprehended by the police dog was physically injured in these events. The suspect involved with the canine unit dog was transported to hospital and treated for his injuries.
All five remain in custody and have been remanded for court in Saskatoon. At present the list of charges number 33 including armed robbery, uttering threats of death, assault with a weapon, pointing a firearm, assaults, flight from police, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, resisting arrest, possession of weapons dangerous to the public and multiple property related offences including mischief, break-ins and possession of stolen property.
“The successful apprehension of the suspects involved in these serious circumstances was a result of the team work of three RCMP detachments and the Saskatoon Police Service, who stayed with the pursuit through to the arrests,” says S/Sgt. Greg Abbott of the Saskatoon RCMP.
“The Saskatoon City Police Service members stayed with the RCMP in support of the apprehension of suspects whose actions had placed victims in circumstances that could very well have been more tragic. Public safety and protection was of the highest priority in the actions taken by the RCMP and Saskatoon Police members to apprehend the suspects in this case.”
