No escape in nature, RCMP find 3 men after chase in Sturgeon Lake

By Susan McNeil

An attempt by three men to avoid arrest in Sturgeon Lake ended in failure after the RCMP Warrant Enforcement Suppression Team (WEST) managed to track and locate all three suspects who had allegedly sped off in a stolen truck.

WEST officers were in the community on June 11 to find a wanted man when one of them saw a truck that had been reported stolen in Prince Albert five days before.

Officers had already connected the truck to their suspect, so they activated their lights and sirens but the driver did not stop.

The officers put down a tire deflation device in the truck’s path, but the driver went over it, deflating both front tires, but the driver still didn’t stop. He continued on rims until finally stopping in a grassy field.

Police said three men then left the vehicle and ran off.

Officers followed them down a heavily brushed hill towards a slough. According to RCMP, they caught the first man knee-deep in a slough. They then allegedly found the second hiding in some brush.

Police said the third suspect was found by RCMP service dog Rogue, despite trying to hide himself with leaves, branches and dirt.

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Officers found two loaded semi-automatic guns they believe had been thrown from the moving truck as it tried to get away from officers.

A 19-year-old man, Kalen Felix of Sturgeon Lake, was charged with 11 counts including flight from police, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, resisting a police officer, possession of property obtained by crime and multiple gun charges.

Police said he also had outstanding warrants for aggravated assault and robbery with a firearm from an incident in Little Red River on May 21.

Keyano Ahenakew, a 26-year-old man from Ahtahkakoop, had similar charges along with failing to comply with a probation order.

Ahenakew had an outstanding arrest warrant for breach of probation.

A third man, Etienne Felix of Sturgeon Lake, is also facing multiple gun related charges and failing to comply with a probation order.