A police pursuit near Sandy Bay First Nation has resulted in multiple weapons charges being laid against a 17-year-old after officers recovered firearms from a stolen vehicle.
On April 6th, the Manitoba First Nations Police Service (MFNPS) was alerted by the RCMP to be on the lookout for two stolen trucks believed to be traveling toward the Sandy Bay community. Officers soon located the suspect vehicles — a white Ford truck and a Dodge truck — on Highway 50 near Langruth.
When officers attempted a traffic stop, the Dodge truck veered onto a gravel road, while the white truck remained in view. In a concerning maneuver, the Dodge truck returned from behind the patrol vehicle, and both suspect vehicles attempted to box in and force the police unit off the road. The Dodge eventually fled the area again.
When emergency lights were activated, the white truck failed to stop and continued northbound until it reached the entrance to Sandy Bay where it stopped. The lone driver exited the vehicle and was taken into custody without incident. The Dodge Ram remains outstanding.
Upon searching the vehicle, officers discovered four firearms along with a significant amount of ammunition. Police also linked the truck to several property and off-road vehicle thefts in surrounding communities.
The youth, whose identity is protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, is facing the following charges:
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Unauthorized Possession of a firearm X4
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Flight from a peace officer
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Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle
He was released on numerous court-ordered conditions.
Anyone with further information is encouraged to contact the MFNPS Sandy Bay Detachment at 204-843-7700 or anonymously through the MFNPS TIPS line at 1-833-978-0048 or TIPS@mfnp.ca.