Daily Herald Staff
A 28-year-old Leask man faces more than 20 charges following an investigation into a suspicious camper trailer that appeared on Mistawasis First Nation.
RCMP officers received a call about the camper at around 11 a.m. on Oct. 15. When they arrived in Mistawasis, police say a vehicle parked by the trailer began driving erratically.
The officers attempted to pull the vehicle over, but said the driver evaded attempts at a traffic stop, and eventually collided with a police vehicle. No officers were injured.
Later RCMP investigation determined the camper was stolen. Officers searched the camper and found and seized three rifles, a sawed-off shotgun, and ammunition.
The RCMP later received a report of a robbery in the RM of Leask. According to the report, a suspect had assaulted a man and stolen a truck. The victim reported non-life-threatening injuries.
Police investigators believe the individual who assaulted the man and stole the truck was the same one who evaded officers at the camper site.
RCMP officers deployed a tire deflation device, which the driver of the stolen vehicle drove over. The truck continued into a nearby field, where police say bot the driver and passenger attempted to flee on foot.
Both suspects were arrested with help from an RCMP Police Dog Services Team.
As a result of the investigation, Eldon Johnstone, 28, of Leask has been charged with two counts of theft of a motor vehicle, one count of flight from police, one count of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, three counts of assault on a police officer, one count of resisting arrest, two counts of possessing a firearm while prohibited, and two counts of possessing a prohibited firearm, among several other charges.
Johnstone made his first appearance in Prince Albert provincial court on Oct. 17.
The RCMP have also charged a 25-year-old woman from Blaine Lake.
