LA RONGE — The last of four suspects in an incident in La Ronge that prompted a civil emergency alert and attempted murder charges has been arrested.
La Ronge RCMP say that on Aug. 11, investigation determined Celine Charles was in their detachment area. Charles was wanted on one count of obstruction in relation to a June 19 firearms incident in La Ronge.
Officers located Charles in Air Ronge. She attempted to flee, but she was arrested without incident.
“All four individuals charged in relation to this dangerous incident – which involved a firearm being discharged at a police officer and a dangerous person alert being issued in the La Ronge area – are now in custody,” says Sgt. Ashley St. Germaine, from Saskatchewan RCMP’s Prince Albert General Investigation Section, which has been investigating this incident. “We want to thank the La Ronge community for their assistance and support during this complex investigation. Together, we are sending a clear message to those who wish to threaten our communities’ safety: we will not tolerate it.”
La Ronge RCMP continues to investigate the circumstances of the arrest of Celine Charles. Also charged in the incident are 36-year-old Allan Sanders, who was charged with obstruction and unauthorized possession of a firearm in a vehicle, Terrance Daigneault, whose charges include two counts of attempted murder, and Nikeyta Bradfield, charged with two counts of accessory after the fact to attempted murder with a firearm.
The June 19 incident had a wide effect in the community.
“In conjunction with this call for service our La Ronge RCMP officers responded to, there was a Children’s Festival happening in the community, garage sales and people enjoying the sunny weekend weather. La Ronge RCMP received an additional six calls for service in the same time period they were managing this dangerous situation,” said S/Sgt. Dean Bridle, La Ronge RCMP Detachment Commander in a release. “Police officers were also following up on tips from the public as a result of the emergency alerts. When an incident is unfolding, there is a lot going on and many risk factors our responding police officers must consider, the scope of which are far-reaching and public and police officer safety must always be top of mind. I am grateful for the kind words our detachment received from members of our community following the conclusion of the incident and thank the people we encountered yesterday who co-operated with police and followed direction. We didn’t want anyone to be hurt. We hope the information we are releasing today gives the public more insight into the seriousness of what occurred.”
Incident began with speeding vehicle
The incident began, RCMP say, around 11:30 a.m. June 19. Two La Ronge RCMP officers were conducting patrols in the community when a black car drove past their vehicle at a high rate of speed on Far Reserve Road. RCMP officers activated their emergency equipment to initiate a traffic stop, but the vehicle continued driving and turned into a driveway at a residence on the 100 block of Far Reserve Road.
The male driver of the vehicle fled the area on foot and one RCMP officer followed, also on foot. The second RCMP officer was outside of the police truck when a second male exited the car with a firearm and discharged in the direction of the police vehicle and officer, putting a hole in the windshield. The RCMP officer also discharged their firearm. A second bullet fired toward the RCMP vehicle hit the front radiator.
The two officers moved to a safe location and more La Ronge RCMP officers arrived.
RCMP say a gathering was happening at the residence where the black car was parked. Multiple people exited the residence and were arrested, including a male and female that investigation determined were also inside the black car and went inside the house after the firearms were discharged. A third female from the black car was unaccounted for.
Police say that given the serious nature of the incident and firearm discharged, a broadcast immediate emergency alert was issued to the public, notifying them of a dangerous person with firearms in the La Ronge area at 12:29 p.m.
An alert update with more information was issued at 1:40 p.m.
The RCMP Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) responded to assist. As a result of the CIRT’s response on scene, around 4:30 p.m. three more people, two males and one female, exited the residence and were arrested.
The emergency alert was cancelled by the Saskatchewan RCMP at 5:35 p.m.
In total, 17 people were arrested in relation to this incident, said RCMP. Fifteen were released without charges and determined not to be involved.
Police issued photos and descriptions of three individuals – the male who initially fled the area on foot, the male who discharged a weapon and a female occupant of the car.
Units assisting with the initial response and/or subsequent investigation include: La Ronge RCMP officers and Detachment Services Assistants, Waskesiu RCMP Detachment, Saskatchewan RCMP CIRT, RCMP Police Dog Services, Prince Albert RCMP Traffic Services, Saskatchewan RCMP Forensic Identification Section and conservation officers with the Provincial Protective Services Branch.
