two men from Montreal Lake Cree Nation He faced drug and weapons charges after he tried to escape police by running into the bushes and crossing a river without wearing a shirt or shoes.
The incident occurred around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, when Waskesiu/Montreal Lakes RCMP learned a wanted man was at a home on the Montreal Lake Cree Nation.
RCMP officers said when they approached the residence, two men ran out of the home and took off in a vehicle. Officers stopped the vehicle from leaving, and police say the men ran into the woods and crossed a river.
Officers found two men and arrested them. Police said it appeared both men were suffering from exposure to the elements and were provided first aid by the Saskatchewan RCMP Emergency Medical Response Team.
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“During the arrest officers seized approximately 3.5 grams of crack-cocaine and a large amount of cash from a male subject,” police said.
“During a subsequent search of the SUV the men attempted to flee, officers located a loaded firearm with a defaced serial number, ammunition, 20 grams of methamphetamine, two batons, a can of bear spray and contraband and Confiscated.”
Tyrese Smith, 23, and Craig McDonald, 32, face multiple charges, including trafficking, firearms charges and two counts of possession with intent to resist arrest.
Police learned that Smith was also wanted on a Canada-wide warrant from Correctional Service Canada for violating the conditions of statutory release and from the Saskatoon Police Service for unlawfully being at large.
“These men, one on a Canada-wide warrant and one just released from prison a few weeks ago, were determined to elude police. They ran through the dense forest area without shirts or shoes and even crossed the cold river in an attempt to escape arrest,” the inspector said. Jeff Smoliak from the Saskatchewan RCMP’s Saskatchewan Enforcement Response Team.
“We have the investigative knowledge and technology to trace persons even in rugged areas. Through the teamwork of Waskesiu/Montreal Lake RCMP, multiple Saskatchewan RCMP units, as well as the Saskatoon Police Service’s Air Support Unit, the men were arrested, and an illegal firearm and illegal drugs were removed from the community of Montreal Lake.
Both men appeared in Prince Albert Provincial Court on April 25.
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