“I was convinced that day it was only a matter of time until the accused’s SUV or bullets killed someone,” said RCMP Const. Jacob Isaac who was involved in the pursuit on Onion Lake Cree Nation Jan. 1, 2021. “This was a feeling very few will experience and was a heavy burden on all of us to accept that we had to potentially die trying to stop this out-of-control threat to society. “I can remember hearing the updates on the radio as we all pursued and I think to myself ‘how do we stop this before someone dies?’ As various scenarios ran through my head on how to stop them, very few had the likelihood of coming out uninjured or (not) killed,” said Const. Isaac. “I’m confident my co-workers had the same gut wrenching thoughts.”
“The Lloydminster RCMP will continue to target those involved in gang activity in and around our community,” said Inspector Lee Brachmann, Officer in charge of the Lloydminster RCMP. “Our intelligence led approach allows us to put additional emphasis on street level gangs, which have been identified as a policing priority for our city.” The operation involved RCMP K Division Air Services, Lloydminster RCMP general duty members, Lloydminster RCMP General Investigations Section, Lloydminster RCMP Crime Reduction Unit, Police Dog Services, Eastern Alberta District Crime Reduction Unit (EADCRU), and Saskatchewan F Division RCMP Crime Reduction Team. On April 21, Eastern Alberta District CRU members stopped a vehicle in Lloydminster and determined the driver was suspended from driving. During the investigation, police located a loaded firearm as well as brass knuckles in the vehicle. The driver was under a court ordered firearms prohibition at the time.
Lloydminster RCMP arrest approximately 40 people during street level crime targeting
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The Lloydminster RCMP has released the results of a month long targeted initiative fighting street-level crime.
Over the month of April, the local detachment had been working on an intelligence led operation, focused on street level organized crime and gangs in and around the city.
This operation also used resources from the Lloydminster RCMP General Investigations Section, Lloydminster RCMP Crime Reduction Unit, Police Dog Services, Eastern Alberta District Crime Reduction Unit , RCMP K Division Air Services and F Division Crime Reduction Team, among others.
As a result, approximately 40 people involved allegedly involved with these crimes were arrested. Numerous stolen vehicles, guns, drugs were also recovered as the RCMP as they executed numerous outstanding warrants.
Weeseekase was arrested on Jan. 1, 2021, after an incident where Onion Lake RCMP were shot at while pursuing a black SUV. His trial was set for Aug. 9 – 12 but won’t proceed after he pleaded guilty April 26 to two charges. The charges include, with intent to endanger the life of an RCMP officer did discharge a firearm at the officer, and driving a vehicle while being pursued by police and failing to stop. RCMP say they were pursuing a black SUV on Onion Lake Cree Nation when a firearm came out of one of the SUV’s windows and multiple shots were fired at the RCMP. No one was injured.