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Manitoba's catch-and-release program was quite visible in the last couple of weeks in the Portage area involving a repeat offender from Dakota Plains First Nation.
Monday, May 20th, saw the RCMP receive the report of a robbery at a store in the 2200 block of Saskatchewan Avenue West. When police arrived, the suspect was running along an open field nearby. They caught up to the suspect and arrested Jacob Smoke, 23, of Dakota Plains First Nation. He was held and appeared in court the following day charged with Robbery.
The very next day, Tuesday the 21st, another call of theft from a business in the 100 block of Saskatchewan Avenue East provided officers with the name of the suspect, who was found a short distance away and arrested. It was Smoke of Dakota Plains First Nation, who was charged with:
- Theft Under $5,000.00 as well as
- Obtain Food by Fraud.
Smoke was released from custody this same day for the previous theft. He appeared in court on May 22nd and was released with conditions.
Two days later, on Thursday, May 23, at 7:36 p.m., Portage RCMP received a weapons complaint at an address on Goodale Drive in Portage. Police arrived and the suspect was gone, however, officers noted everyone was safe and proceeded to an address where Jacob Smoke had gone. They found him at an address on Oak Bay and arrested him without incident. Smoke was released from custody just over 24 hours before this offense.
He is charged with:
- two counts of Assault with a Weapon,
- Assault,
- Uttering Threats,
- Possession of Weapon for Dangerous Purpose,
- Carry Concealed Weapon,
- and two counts of Fail to Comply with Probation Order.
He was held and appeared in court on May 24th. Smoke remains in custody.