A man arrested in the Maidstone area following an extensive search by police has made his first court apperance.
According to Saskatchewan RCMP, Jeremy Kelly Buffin, 29, made his first appearance in North Battleford Provincial Court was Friday morning, Oct. 13 at 9:30 a.m. His next appearance is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 16, at 9:30 a.m., at the same location.
He is charged with robbery with a weapon, pointing a firearm, using a firearm in the commission of an offence, two counts of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, possession of property obtained by crime, and of flight from police. All offences are under the Criminal Code.
Buffin was arrested Thursday morning after he exited a car that became stuck in a slough area yesterday morning in an area near Maidstone.
The arrest is in connection to a larger incident that originated in the Edmonton area and made its way into Saskatchewan. Edmonton police service reported Thursday they were investigating incidents related to a carjacking on Wednesday night around 11:45 pm in the city.
The search for suspects eventually made its way across the border into the Maidstone and Paynton detachment areas the following day.
According to police, members from Maidstone, Battlefords, Unity, Onion Lake, Turtleford, Cutknife and Lloydminster Detachments, RCMP Police Dog Services and the RCMP Emergency Response Team were on the scene until late Thursday evening. Assistance was also provided by RCMP unmanned aerial vehicles and “K” Division RCMP air services.
There was a heavy police presence in the Maidstone and the Paynton areas on Thursday. Members were attending farm and acreages in the Paynton/Maidstone areas.
RCMP are saying that the police presence has decreased as of Friday, and Maidstone RCMP continues to conduct patrols in the area.
Police say the investigation is ongoing. In particular, police are still on the lookout for a suspected second individual in the case.
That individual has not been located and police say it is unknown if a second individual was involved in the incident. They are urging the public to remain vigilant, to not approach suspicious vehicles or persons and to report any suspicious activity, vehicles or persons in the Maidstone area to police.
