Three people arrested by the Saskatchewan RCMP Crime Reduction Team made their first court appearance yesterday and weren’t given bail.
Lyndon Belly, 34, Wanita Harper, 30, both from Onion Lake and Cheyenne Harper, 27, from Lloydminster, all appeared in Lloydminster Provincial Court Aug. 17.
The RCMP Crime Reduction Team was sent to Onion Lake from Aug. 12 to Aug. 16 to help Onion Lake RCMP reduce gang activity.
While patrolling Hwy 17 on Aug. 15, CRT officers stopped a white Dodge Ram pickup truck near route 797 for a traffic violation. The driver of the vehicle refused to stop and fled from police.
The special CRT unit police officers put spike belts on Hwy 17 to intercept the vehicle on two occasions but the vehicle left the highway. The CRT officers followed the vehicle and saw three people, one man and two women, abandon the vehicle. They fled on foot and broke into a residence in an attempt to evade police. The CRT officers seized a small amount of cocaine, drug paraphernalia and $2,085 in Canadian currency.
Belly was charged with break and enter into a dwelling, resisting arrest, possession of property obtained by crime, and possession of cocaine.
Wanita Harper was charged with break and enter into a dwelling, resisting arrest, fleeing from police, driving while disqualified, refusing to provide blood alcohol samples, and dangerous operation of a vehicle.
Cheyenne Harper was charged with break and enter into a dwelling and resisting arrest.
All three were remanded in custody when they were arrested on Aug. 15 and again after their first court appearance on Aug. 17.
They are all scheduled to appear in Lloydminster Provincial Court Aug. 24 for a continuation of their show cause hearings.
Onion Lake Cree Nation was under a state of emergency in January 2020 for a few months after a a string of gang- and drug-related violence that threatened the safety of its 4,000 residents. Onion Lake Cree Nation borders the Saskatchewan and Alberta border and is about 30 kilometres north of Lloydminster.
The RCMP Crime Reduction Unit helps police detachments in Saskatchewan capture gang members, as well as prolific offenders.
