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RCMP exchange fire with robbery suspects, charges laid

UPDATE: Saskatoon Provincial General Investigation Section has laid charges in relation to the incident below.
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UPDATE: Saskatoon Provincial General Investigation Section has laid charges in relation to the incident below.

Tristan Pinder (19 years old) of Elk Point, Alberta, is charged with:

- Possession of Stolen Property of $5000 - Section 354(1)(a) Criminal Code
- Flight From Police - Section 249.1(1) Criminal Code
- Dangerous Operation of Motor Vehicle - Section 249(1)(a) Criminal Code
- TheftUnder $5000 - Section334(b) Criminal Code
- Discharge Firearm With Intent - Section 244 Criminal Code
- Assault Police Officer - Section 270(1)(a) Criminal Code
- Fail to Comply With Recognizance - Section 145(3) Criminal Code

Verena Petruka (30 years old) of Melville, Saskatchewan, is charged with:

- Possession of Stolen Property of $5000 - Section 354(1)(a) Criminal Code
- Flight From Police - Section 249.1(1) Criminal Code
- Dangerous Operation of Motor Vehicle - Section 249(1)(a) Criminal Code
- TheftUnder $5000 - Section334(b) Criminal Code
- Discharge Firearm With Intent - Section 244 Criminal Code
- Assault Police Officer - Section 270(1)(a) Criminal Code

Both were taken into custody and made their first appearance in North Battleford Provincial Court Monday, April 16 before Judge Bruce Bauer. They were back in court again Tuesday morning, 9:30 am in North Battleford provincial court and were remanded to appear again Monday morning, 11 am, by CCTV.

The investigation is ongoing with the assistance of several specialized police units and RCMP detachment resources.

BACKGROUND: In apprehending suspects in a Lashburn robbery Saturday, RCMP were called upon to use a police dog and weapons. Two adults were taken into police custody; as if Sunday morning, no charges had been laid by the RCMP and the investigation is ongoing.

On April 14, around 11:30 a.m. Maidstone RCMP received a complaint of a theft from a gas station in Lashburn. The suspect vehicle involved in the complaint, a black Dodge Caravan (a taxi cab van), matched the description of a vehicle involved in an alleged robbery and assault with a weapon that occurred on April 13 in Regina.

Maidstone RCMP  located this vehicle on Highway 16 and activated their emergency equipment, but the van did not stop.
RCMP members followed the van eastbound on Highway 16 with the assistance of North Battleford RCMP and Police Dog Services.

The van stopped just off Highway 16 west of Delmas and a firearm was discharged from the van. This resulted in an RCMP member discharging their firearm.
An RCMP vehicle struck the van and the van became stuck in the ditch.A firearm was pointed towards members and an RCMP member discharged their firearm.
With the assistance of Police Dog Services an adult male and adult female were arrested at the scene. The adult female received medical treatment for what were described as minor injuries as a result of the assistance from Police Dog Services during her arrest.

No RCMP members were injured as a result of this incident.

According to Regina RCMP, on Friday, April 13, at approximately 8:16 a.m., police were dispatched to the 2900 block of Parliament Avenue for the report of a robbery and assault.

Police arrived to find a 34 year-old male male with injuries consistent with a stabbing. EMS attended to the male, who was transported to hospital. His vehicle was stolen by the assailant.