On March 6, 2022, Spiritwood RCMP officers located two suspicious vehicles outside a residence on Witchekan Lake First Nation. As a result of investigation, four adult males were arrested.
A search warrant was then obtained and executed at the residence. As a result of searches incidental to the arrests and the search warrant, officers located and seized:
- Seven firearms
- Three prohibited weapons
- Approximately 32.5 grams of suspected crack cocaine
- Approximately 23.5 grams of suspected methamphetamine
- Approximately 105 grams of an unknown substance currently under investigation
- Drug trafficking paraphernalia
- A sum of cash
Dennis Marcia of Witchekan Lake First Nation is charged with:
- 1 count, possession (crack cocaine), Section 4(1), Controlled Drugs and Substances Act
- 1 count, unsafe storage of firearm, Section 86(2), Criminal Code
- 3 counts, possession of weapon for dangerous purpose, Section 88(2), Criminal Code
- 1 count, carry concealed weapon, Section 90, Criminal Code
- 1 count, possess firearm while knowing possession not authorized, Section 92(1), Criminal Code
- 1 count, possess prohibited weapon in vehicle, Section 94, Criminal Code
- 1 count, possess prohibited weapon with readily available ammunition, Section 95(2), Criminal Code
- 1 count, possession of a prohibited weapon, Section 92(2), Criminal Code
- 6 counts, possession of a weapon, firearm or ammunition contrary to prohibition order, Section 117. 01(1), Criminal Code
- 5 counts, fail to comply with probation order, Section 733.1(1), Criminal Code
Shane Witchekan of Witchekan Lake First Nation is charged with:
- 1 count, possession (crack cocaine), Section 4(1), Controlled Drugs and Substances Act
- 1 count, unsafe storage of firearm, Section 86(2), Criminal Code
- 3 counts, possession of weapon for dangerous purpose, Section 88(2), Criminal Code
- 1 count, carry concealed weapon, Section 90, Criminal Code
- 1 count, possess firearm while knowing possession not authorized, Section 92(1), Criminal Code
- 1 count, possess prohibited weapon in vehicle, Section 94, Criminal Code
- 1 count, possess prohibited weapon with readily available ammunition, Section 95(2), Criminal Code
- 1 count, possession of a prohibited weapon, Section 92(2), Criminal Code
- 6 counts, possession of a weapon, firearm or ammunition contrary to prohibition order, Section 117. 01(1), Criminal Code
Melvin Starblanket of Witchekan Lake First Nation is charged with:
- 2 counts, possession (crack cocaine and methamphetamine), Section 4(1), Controlled Drugs and Substances Act
- 2 counts, possession for the purpose of trafficking (crack cocaine and methamphetamine), Section 5(2), Controlled Drugs and Substances Act
- 1 count, unsafe storage of firearm, Section 86(2), Criminal Code
- 2 counts, possession of weapon for dangerous purpose, Section 88(2), Criminal Code
- 1 count, possess firearm while knowing possession not authorized, Section 92(1), Criminal Code
- 1 count, possess prohibited weapon in vehicle, Section 94, Criminal Code
- 1 count, possess prohibited weapon with readily available ammunition, Section 95(2), Criminal Code
- 1 count, possession of a prohibited weapon, Section 92(2), Criminal Code
- 3 counts, possession of a weapon, firearm or ammunition contrary to prohibition order, Section 117. 01(1), Criminal Code
Brendon Starblanket of Witchekan Lake First Nation is charged with:
- 2 counts, possession (crack cocaine and methamphetamine), Section 4(1), Controlled Drugs and Substances Act
- 2 counts, possession for the purpose of trafficking (crack cocaine and methamphetamine), Section 5(2), Controlled Drugs and Substances Act
- 3 counts, unsafe storage of firearm, Section 86(2), Criminal Code
- 1 count, possess firearm while knowing possession not authorized, Section 92(1), Criminal Code
- 3 counts, possession of weapon for dangerous purpose, Section 88(2), Criminal Code
- 5 counts, fail to comply with release order, Section 145(3), Criminal Code
- 1 count, possession of weapon obtained by crime, Section 96, Criminal Code
They will appear in court in Spiritwood on March 8, 2022.