Four people were arrested in Whitehorse after a collision on the Alaska Highway on April 12, 2024. Multiple people are facing a variety of charges stemming from this incident, related to the traffic collision itself and the follow up investigation where police seized one revolver and multiple packages of a substance believed to be cocaine.
On Friday, April 12, 2024, at approximately 5:20pm, Whitehorse RCMP received a call about a vehicle rollover on the Alaska Highway, north of the Crestview neighbourhood. Police attended the area within minutes of the call. The officers on scene observed one vehicle, a blue Honda Civic, in the ditch, and learned from witnesses that another vehicle, a pickup truck, had left the scene.
As police attempted to gather information about the collision, the occupant of the vehicle who had initially remained fled the scene on foot. He was located nearby and arrested at approximately 7:00pm, by Whitehorse RCMP general duty officers and Yukon RCMP Police Dog Services.
Investigating officers were able to identify the three occupants of the truck that reportedly left the scene and located them nearby. They were arrested for failure to stop after an accident. During searches incidental to arrest, police found that one person was in possession of a firearm and another was in possession of multiple small packages of a substance believed to be cocaine. The third person was found to have provided a false name to police, and was arrested for multiple outstanding warrants on unrelated police files.
Jessi-John Whalen, age 27 of Whitehorse, had a first court appearance on April 13, 2024. He is charged with the following offences:
- Operate a conveyance while prohibited, section 320.24 Criminal Code;
- Fail to stop at an accident, section 320.16(1) Criminal Code;
- Carry a concealed weapon, section 90 Criminal Code;
- Unauthorized possession of a firearm, section 91(1) Criminal Code.
At this time, the investigation is ongoing and police cannot share the names of others involved in order to protect their privacy; they will have upcoming court appearances.
Police appreciated calls from witnesses when this incident happened. The investigators are still collecting information about what lead to the collision. Anyone who witnessed this incident and has not yet spoken to police, or who has dashcam footage that would provide insight into the cause, is encouraged to reach out to Whitehorse RCMP at 867 667 5555 or, to remain anonymous, contact Crimestoppers at www.crimestoppersyukon.ca or by phone at 867-667-6715.