The operation of all-terrain vehicles has become an issue in La Loche. (file photo/paNOW Staff)

By larongeNOW Staff

Quads Impounded

Seized ATVs in La Loche spurs ‘retaliation’ against RCMP

Apr 19, 2019 | 1:00 PM

La Loche RCMP believe the tires of a police vehicle that were slashed in the community earlier this week was in retaliation for six all-terrain vehicles (ATV) officers seized last weekend.

That’s according to Staff Sgt. Conrad Logan who said when he arrived at the detachment a month ago, a plan was made to end the illegal use of ATVs in the community. He noted local community leaders and citizens expressed concerns about the erratic and unsafe use of ATVs in La Loche, and wanted the RCMP to respond to it. Since the beginning of April, officers have been stopping ATV operators and advising them to use the ditch or public land, but there have been more than 20 instances where ATV operators refused to stop for police and drove away.

“There’s been times when we have been called and make those patrols,” Logan said. “Unfortunately, quads can take certain path and go into certain areas our regular police vehicles can’t get to. A lot of the time they are a little bit more nimble to get into those areas and get away from us.”

In response to the illegal ATV activity, a concerted effort was made last weekend to seize the ATVs and identify the individuals driving them. After a couple nights of covert surveillance using unmarked police vehicles and assistance from community members in and around La Loche, six ATVs which were either spotted fleeing from police, driving erratically or in a dangerous manner were seized. The operators of the ATVs hid their faces with bandanas and balaclavas to conceal their identity. The ATVs have been impounded for between two and 30 days.

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“In Saskatchewan, you cannot licence an ATV to be operated on a provincial road, street or highway,” Logan said. “All of the files are currently under investigation, just because we need to determine exactly who was driving them and at what time.”

In what officers believe was retaliation for the impounded ATVs, during the night or early morning hours of April 16, the tires of a police vehicle parked outside the residence of an on-call RCMP officer were slashed.

The investigation into the identity of the ATV operators and the slashing of the police vehicle tires is still ongoing. The RCMP is asking anyone with information to contact the La Loche RCMP at 1-306-822-2010 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

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