Six firearms, four of which were loaded, were seized from a vehicle following a traffic stop conducted by the Saskatchewan RCMP near Poundmaker First Nation on Nov. 8.
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Members of the North Battleford Crime Reduction Team (CRT), with assistance from Cut Knife RCMP, were conducting enforcement operations in the area when they stopped a black Cadillac Escalade occupied by a man, a woman and two dogs.
Police determined the passenger, 27-year-old Caroline Eagleshield of Sweetgrass First Nation, was wanted on warrants for assault with a weapon and failure to appear in North Battleford court. She was arrested on her outstanding warrants.
Officers also discovered unstamped tobacco inside the vehicle, leading to the arrest of the driver, 40-year-old Robert Noorgard of Cut Knife.
A search of the SUV uncovered a loaded sawed-off shotgun, prompting officers to re-arrest both occupants for possession of a loaded, prohibited firearm. Another loaded gun was found under blankets in the back seat.
Police then located a hidden compartment under two aggressive dogs in the vehicle. After safely removing the animals, officers discovered and seized four additional firearms from the compartment.
“A total of six guns were seized from the vehicle, including four that were loaded with ammunition in the chamber – which means our officers had to clear the weapons immediately upon locating them for everyone’s safety,” said Cpl. Sowers of the North Battleford RCMP Crime Reduction Team. “Two firearms had serial numbers altered or removed and three firearms were cut down to a prohibited length. Take a moment to think that this vehicle had been travelling with all the other motorists on Saskatchewan roads – our team is grateful we were able to remove these guns from our communities and streets.”
Another hidden compartment contained suspected methamphetamine and cocaine, along with a collapsible baton and cash. Police said Noorgard was also wearing soft body armour and carrying a large hunting knife at the time of his arrest.
Both suspects face numerous charges.
Robert Noorgard, 40, of Cut Knife, is charged with 32 offences, including:
- Unsafe storage of a firearm (3 counts)
- Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose (9 counts)
- Possession of a firearm without a licence (6 counts)
- Occupant of a motor vehicle knowing there is a prohibited firearm (6 counts)
- Possession of a loaded prohibited or restricted firearm (3 counts)
- Removing a firearm serial number (2 counts)
- Possession of methamphetamine and cocaine for the purpose of trafficking (2 counts)
- Unlawful possession of unstamped tobacco (1 count)
Caroline Eagleshield, 27, of Sweetgrass First Nation, faces 47 charges, including:
- Unsafe storage of a firearm (4 counts)
- Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose (8 counts)
- Possession of a firearm without a licence (6 counts)
- Occupant of a motor vehicle knowing there is a prohibited firearm (6 counts)
- Possession of a loaded prohibited or restricted firearm (3 counts)
- Removing a firearm serial number (2 counts)
- Possession of methamphetamine and cocaine for the purpose of trafficking (2 counts)
- Failure to comply with a release order (15 counts)
- Unlawful possession of unstamped tobacco (1 count)
Both Noorgard and Eagleshield are scheduled to appear in North Battleford Provincial Court on Nov. 10.
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