Three people are in custody after a violent truck robbery on Sturgeon Lake First Nation led police on a pursuit that ended on foot, in a swamp and in the water.
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Saskatchewan RCMP say officers responded to a report of a robbery on Aug. 4 at about 4:30 p.m. According to police, a man armed with a firearm approached two people, threatened them and stole their truck. No physical injuries were reported by the victims.
Responding officers spotted the stolen vehicle on Highway 355 and attempted a traffic stop. Police say the truck failed to stop, driving into oncoming traffic at high speeds and forcing motorists and police to take evasive action.
Officers deployed a tire deflation device, but the truck continued driving on damaged tires for several minutes before stopping on Sturgeon Lake Road.
Police say the male driver stepped out holding a sawed-off firearm, fired a shot into the air and fled on foot into nearby terrain.
Meanwhile, one of two female passengers in the truck took the wheel and drove to a nearby beach. Both women then tried to swim away from responding officers, who entered the water to arrest them.
The male suspect was later found hiding in a swamp with the help of the RCMP’s critical incident response team, police dog services and drone units. A sawed-off firearm was recovered nearby.
Thoren Daniels, 21, of Sturgeon Lake First Nation, faces 21 charges, including robbery, pointing a firearm, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, flight from a peace officer and multiple firearms offences.
Keanna Knife, 29, of Prince Albert and Savanna Mickelson, 21, of Saskatoon, are each charged with robbery, resisting a peace officer and firearms offences. Knife faces an additional charge of flight from a peace officer.
All three suspects appeared in Prince Albert Provincial Court on Thursday, Aug. 6.
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