This photo of the pickup after colliding with heavy equipment was shared on social media. (Facebook)

By Susan McNeil

Carjackings

La Ronge teen and P.A. man charged following shooting yesterday

Oct 25, 2024 | 4:33 PM

An 18-year-old woman from La Ronge and a 33-year-old Prince Albert man are both facing multiple charges stemming from a carjacking and shooting that hospitalized a local construction worker.

Melissa McCallum and Angus Heathen are both charged with aggravated assault, robbery with a firearm and multiple other charges connected to the incident on White Star Road yesterday morning. Both will appear in Prince Albert Provincial Court on Monday.

RCMP said the pair were spotted by the Saskatoon Air Support Unit running along the bank of the Saskatchewan River three kilometres from where they first entered the bush, near Thunder Rapid Lodge, a drive of over 200 kilometres from Prince Albert.

RCMP officers on the ground arrested the pair and said that McCallum was treated by EMS for minor injuries caused the collision of the stolen Dodge Ram pickup and heavy equipment that was working on Highway 123.

The two remaining suspects have not been caught. RCMP reiterated the difficulty of searching the area because of the dense, thick brush, swampland and mossy/boggy terrain.

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Mitch Simon, the outfitter who runs the Thunder Rapids Lodge and campground, told paNOW this morning that Argos or other equipment are needed to navigate the swampy terrain.

READ MORE: Outfitter agrees that terrain is difficult to work around.

Ground and air searches are continuing and residents in the area are reminded to be vigilant, not approach suspicious people and report unusual activity to police by calling 911 if it’s an emergency and dialing 310-RCMP in other circumstances.

Investigators will continue to look at yesterday’s chain of events and the doings of the charged individuals in the days leading up to it to see what connections exist.

About one week before the carjacking and assault yesterday, two similar events happened, one in the rural area and one in Little Red Park. Those suspects were not arrested.

The victim continues to recover in hospital and his family confirmed that he is in stable condition while police described his wound as serious.

Anyone with surveillance footage starting in Holbein, travelling past Nipawin and up to the lodge with a special focus on Highways 355 and 55 is asked to share their footage with the RCMP. That could be anything from a door camera to a trail camera.

They should watch for a black SUV with three or four suspects, all dressed in black, and wearing bandanas over their faces, starting on October 23 and continuing to October 24.

Tips should be reported to 310-RCMP (7627).

Residents in the listed areas should also check on their neighbours to ensure their safety.

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com