PRINCE ALBERT – Five individuals were arrested after initiating a criminal flight from police, following a violent incident involving a drive-by shooting.
Members of the Prince Albert Police Service and the Saskatchewan RCMP worked collaboratively to capture the fleeing suspects and bring the situation under control.
On April 19 at approximately 7 p.m., police were called to the 800 block of 12th Street West for a weapons complaint.
Initial information stated four people exited a vehicle and a firearm was discharged at a house before getting back in the vehicle and fleeing southbound.
Officers attended the site and while on scene some other officers located the vehicle and activated emergency equipment.
The vehicle did not stop for police and due to the severity of the prior incident, officers continued to pursue the suspect vehicle.
The suspect vehicle continued to evade police at a high rate of speed within the city before heading towards RCMP jurisdiction.
Saskatchewan RCMP was notified and joined the pursuit as the vehicle headed north of Prince Albert on Highway 2.
The suspect vehicle then turned back towards the city and officers observed one of the occupants of the vehicle peak out the window and began to shoot at police.
Officers continued to pursue the vehicle as it turned on Highway 55 East.
The occupant of the suspect vehicle continued to shoot at police before turning into Little Red Park where it was brought to a stop after being boxed in by police vehicles.
Upon a search of the vehicle, a .22-caliber sawed-off rifle was located alongside knives, a machete, an air pistol, bear spray, and illicit substances.
No officers were injured as a result of this pursuit.
As a result, the five occupants, a 32-year-old man, two 30-year-old men, 21-year-old man, and 28-year-old woman have been charged with multiple firearms related charges, discharging a firearm with intent, assaulting a peace officers, resisting a peace officers, evading police, and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.
The 32-year-old man has also been charged with possession of meth and cocaine for the purpose of trafficking and possession of the proceeds of crime under $5,000. All five are scheduled to appear in Prince Albert Provincial Court on April 21.