Two men pursued by Alberta and Saskatchewan RCMP after an alleged shooting on Onion Lake Cree Nation and several car jackings where people were shot at, were denied bail.
Lucas Aaron Oakes, 24, from Makwa Sahaiegcan First Nation, and Jesse Leigh Heathen, 33, from Lloydminster, had show cause hearings on Oct. 15 and were remanded in custody.
Some charges were withdrawn and a preliminary hearing was set on numerous charges. The charges include theft of a vehicle, robbery with the use of a firearm, discharging a firearm with intent, assault, uttering threats, unauthorized possession of a prohibited or restricted weapon, possession of a weapon or prohibited device or ammunition while prohibited, dangerous operation of a vehicle, and flight from police.
Oakes and Heathen, along with Montana Horse, were arrested July 29.
Onion Lake, Sask., RCMP said they responded to a report at about 5 p.m. on July 29 that a man was shot with a firearm. The victim was taken to hospital with serious but non life-threatening injuries. Police say the suspects fled Onion Lake Cree Nation in a vehicle.
About an hour later Lloydminster, Alta., RCMP got a call that a vehicle collided with another vehicle on 46 Avenue and that two suspects in the crashed vehicle allegedly pointed a firearm at someone in a truck in an attempt to steal the vehicle. They were unsuccessful and the suspects fled on foot.
But minutes later, the armed suspects allegedly fired two shots at someone inside another vehicle in a second attempted carjacking. Again they were unsuccessful because the driver managed to drive away to safety.
Then the suspects assaulted a victim in a third attempt and successfully stole a truck. Police located the vehicle east of Lloydminster and started a pursuit, which they called off because the stolen truck was veering into oncoming traffic in the westbound lanes on Hwy 16.
At about 6:50 p.m. the Maidstone, Sask., RCMP got a call about a stolen truck near the junction of Hwy 16 and Hwy 303. Lloydminster Alta., RCMP located the truck in Lloydminster and arrested Montana Horse of Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation. Horse was charged with possession of property obtained by crime, possession of a controlled substance, and two counts of failing to comply with conditions because she was wanted by the police at the time of her arrest.
Maidstone RCMP got another call at about 7:30 p.m. that there was a truck stuck near Hillmond. The RCMP found Oakes and Heathen walking on a road nearby and arrested them.
Horse was released on bail in August. She failed, however, to attend a scheduled court appearance on Oct. 19 and a warrant for her arrest was issued.
Oakes and Heathen’s preliminary hearings are set for May 10, 2021, in Lloydminster Provincial Court.
None of the charges against Oakes, Heathen and Montana have been proven in court.
Onion Lake Cree Nation is about 30 kilometres north of Lloydminster and borders Alberta and Saskatchewan.
