Items seized from a home on Pine Drive Dec. 18 (submitted/RCMP Media Relations)

By Cam Lee

Eight charged in Pelican Narrows

Significant enforcement project in Pelican Narrows yields drugs, weapons

Dec 22, 2023 | 3:46 PM

A five-day enforcement project in Pelican Narrows has led to a number of charges.

The RCMP’s La Ronge Crime Reduction Team (CRT) and Pelican Narrows detachment joined forces for an enforcement initiative Dec. 15 through 19.

According to a news release, the initiative included proactive patrols and traffic stops, searches for wanted people, and executed search warrants in connection to ongoing weapons and drug trafficking investigations.

On Dec. 16, several knives and machetes, bear mace, drug trafficking paraphernalia, and a small amount of methamphetamine were seized during a search warrant executed at a house on Linklater Street.

20-year-old Braden Michel of Pelican Narrows faces two counts of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, and he was also arrested on a warrant for failing to attend court. He is scheduled to appear in court in Pelican Narrows Feb. 6, 2024. Two other men and a youth female were also arrested on outstanding warrants.

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The following day, officers seized 53 small bags of meth, trafficking paraphernalia, a sawed-off shotgun, an Airsoft gun, and ammunition during the search executed at a house on McKay Road.

Weapons and drugs seized from a home on McKay Road Dec. 17. (submitted/RCMP Media Relations)

35-year-old Solomon Thomas, 31-year-old April Custer, 25-year-old Newton Ballantyne, and a youth female, all from Pelican Narrows, are each charged with one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking and five firearms-related charges. The youth female is also charged with failing to comply with an undertaking condition, and all appeared in court Dec. 19.

On Dec. 18, two and a half grams of cocaine and a gram of methamphetamine, an air rifle, a shotgun, two sawed-off shotguns, a rifle, ammunition, and trafficking paraphernalia were seized from a home on Pine Drive. RCMP said some of the firearms were hidden in a wall of the home, while others were buried in the snow outside of it.

27-year-old Colton Bighetty of Pelican Narrows, 27-year-old Brett Michel from The Pas, Man., and 25-year-old Ovide Michel of Pelican Narrows are each charged with two counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking, one count of possession of the proceeds of crime, and firearms-related charges, and all appeared in court in Pelican Narrows Dec. 19.

“Over five days, officers arrested eight wanted individuals, and took cocaine and methamphetamine packaged for sale, firearms and other weapons off the streets,” says Sgt. Ryan Davies from La Ronge CRT. “Dangerous drugs and weapons have no place in Pelican Narrows – or any community. Frontline Saskatchewan RCMP detachment officers and specialized units like CRT will continue to work together to arrest those who choose to bring these safety risks into our communities.”

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panews@pattisonmedia.com