McLean was arrested May 19, 2020, and charged with manslaughter in connection to the Oct. 18, 2019, murder of Ryan Gatzke, 27. McLean is also charged in connection to an April 28, 2020, shooting incident where shots were fired at a North Battleford hotel. In connection to Gatzke’s murder, McLean is charged with manslaughter, break and enter with intent to commit an indictable offence, and unauthorized possession of a firearm. Jacob Ballantyne, 25, Isaac Melko, 22, and a young offender – whose name can’t be released in accordance with the Youth Criminal Justice Act - were charged with second-degree murder, break and enter with intent to commit an indictable offence, disguise with intent, carry a weapon for the purpose of committing an offence, possession of a firearm without a license, and unauthorized possession of a firearm.
Ahenakew and three others were arrested last September during a traffic stop by the RCMP gang unit in North Battleford on Railway Avenue. Police say officers initiated a traffic stop on two vehicles. They say one occupant was known to police and had an outstanding arrest warrant. Police saw weapons in one of the vehicles and arrested the four from both vehicles. They searched the vehicles and found a firearm, a Taser, weapons, cocaine, meth and marijuana. 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.
Miller has a trial tentatively scheduled in North Battleford Provincial Court for May 2021. Last month a Vancouver lawyer representing Miller asked for time to go over disclosure and said there may be a global resolution in all of Miller’s matters. He also said there are some factual and charter issues. Miller was arrested in May 2020 during a traffic stop in Regina. The next day, police raided Miller’s rural property 27 kilometres north of Biggar and arrested Mitch Hutchinson, 49. As a result of the traffic stop by Regina Police, Miller was charged with drug trafficking offences. He was also charged with possession of proceeds of crime under $5,000, possession of a weapon dangerous to the public and breach of probation. After the rural property search near Biggar, Miller was charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking, possessing proceeds of crime over $5,000 and 16 firearms-related charges.
When the Crown stays or withdraws charges this means the Crown has discontinued the case against the accused but there is a distinction between staying charges and withdrawing charges. When charges are stayed the Crown can still bring the charges “back to life” within one year of the day they were stayed. It’s rare, however, that the Crown will bring the charges back and prosecute the individual. If charges are withdrawn then this means that the Crown is finished with those charges and will never bring them back against the individual. Becker and Tyson Goller, 33, were arrested on Sept. 10, 2020, after the RCMP Gang Task Force/Street Enforcement Team raided a residence on the 1300 block of 96 Street in North Battleford.
When police searched his SUV they found a large amount of Canadian currency, about 15 kg of methamphetamine, about one kg of cocaine, a small amount of fentanyl and one kg of an unidentified substance. Police say the methamphetamine equals about 150,000 individual doses and the cocaine equals about 1,000 individual doses. A lawyer appearing for Diehl on Feb. 11 requested a four-week adjournment to review further disclosure received. The Crown and Defence may reach a joint submission. Diehl’s matter is now scheduled in North Battleford Provincial Court on March 11. Federal Crown Prosecutor Kirsten Janis from Saskatoon asked the court to issue a bench warrant to hold against Diehl to preserve jurisdiction.