Nine people between the ages of 17 and 40 are facing a multitude of charges after an organized crime investigation into violent offences that happened in Regina between July and October of 2019.
Following the investigation by the Regina Police Service (RPS) street gang unit, members of a street gang in Saskatchewan were arrested on June 11, 2020. The charges include attempted murder, uttering threats and extortion.
40-year-old Ramie Bellegarde from Goodeve has been charged with instructing commission of offence for criminal organization, commission of offence for criminal organization, attempt to commit murder, three counts of uttering threats and two counts of extortion.
Six others, ranging in ages from 17 to 36, are all charged with the commission of an offence for a criminal organization and attempted murder. The ninth person, 33-year-old Misty Shay Taypotat, is wanted on an outstanding warrant for participation in activities of a criminal organization.
Speaking on Tuesday morning from RPS headquarters, Superintendent Corey Zaharuk noted that the accused and victims were either associated to or are members of the same street gang. He chose not to identify which gang is involved, saying it brings notoriety to them and that the name is racially discouraging.
Zaharuk shared that the criminal acts were targeted at a couple people.
“Conflict within the street gang resulted in threats to cause death, extortion and acts of retribution,” said Zaharuk. “On three occasions, attempts were made to kill two individuals, once during a home invasion and during two drive-by shootings.”
Zaharuk said when it comes to crimes involving firearms in Regina, a lot are gang-related.
“In 2019 for instance, we had a 173 violent firearm offences. We seized 460 guns and 63 people were shot,” explained Zaharuk. “Many of those matters are either related to two things: street gang activity or the drug trade.”
Each of the arrested individuals make their next court appearances on the mornings of June 18 and 19 except for the 17-year-old who will be in youth court on June 22.
RPS say this investigation is ongoing.
(With files from Mitchell Blair)
