Two men are in custody and facing a combined 35 charges after a Good Samaritan was held at gunpoint and his truck stolen near North Battleford.
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Battlefords RCMP arrested 29-year-old Austin Crevier of Edmonton and 31-year-old Bobby Lacombe of Fishing Lake First Nation following a brief pursuit and a search involving a police dog on April 3.
Investigators say the incident began around 3 a.m. on April 2 when a driver stopped to offer two men a ride on the side of the road. Once inside the vehicle, the suspects allegedly pointed a firearm at the driver and threatened him.
The victim managed to escape the truck before the suspects drove away. Police report that a firearm was discharged during the encounter, though no injuries were reported.
Officers located the stolen truck traveling south on Highway 4. When the vehicle failed to stop for police, a tire deflation device was deployed. The suspects then abandoned the truck on the Red Pheasant Cree Nation and fled on foot.
RCMP Police Dog Services assisted in locating both men a short time later. A shotgun was recovered from the scene.
Crevier faces 24 charges, including:
- Robbery with a firearm;
- Reckless discharge of a firearm;
- Flight from a peace officer;
- Twelve counts of possession of a weapon contrary to a court order.
Lacombe was charged with 11 offences, including robbery with a firearm and 10 counts of weapons possession contrary to an order.
According to the RCMP, both men were already wanted on outstanding warrants from the Elk Point detachment in Alberta for firearms-related offences. Lacombe was also the subject of a Canada-wide parole warrant.
“We are grateful this dangerous situation was concluded safely with no injuries,” said Staff Sgt. Bryce Pender of the Battlefords RCMP.
The accused were scheduled to appear in North Battleford Provincial Court on April 6.
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