Last Friday morning Prince Albert RCMP responded to a house fire in the community of Little Red River.
The call came in at 7:20 a.m. and officers found the home fully engulfed in flames. Two people inside the home had escaped the flames and were transported to hospital by EMS with non-life-threatening injuries.
The police Investigation determined individuals known to the occupants had entered the home, discharged bear spray, took various items, ignited a fire, and fled in a vehicle. Shortly after 8:00 a.m., officers located individuals matching the descriptions of the suspects outside a residence on Sturgeon Lake First Nation.
When police approached and activated their emergency equipment the suspects fled in two vehicles. When trying to pull them over, the truck continued to flee, and the car rammed a marked occupied RCMP cruiser multiple times before also fleeing. The officers were not injured.
In a news release the RCMP say that during the pursuit, occupants in the car threw an item from the vehicle. A loaded, sawed-off rifle and a magazine were later recovered. When the car came to a stop a driver and two others inside were arrested. During a search of the vehicle, officers located and seized a butane torch lighter, bear mace, an edged weapon, ammunition and stolen property.
As a result of investigation, three individuals are facing multiple charges and appeared in court Monday. Rachelle Ballantyne, a 26-year-old from Sturgeon Lake First Nation, Cody Naytowhow, a 28-year-old from Sturgeon Lake First Nation, and Kara Larson, a 20-year-old from Prince Albert are all facing multiple weapons charges while Rachelle Ballantyne is also facing an arson charge.
Charges against Rachelle Ballantyne, Cody Naytowhow, Kara Larson:
– one count, assault on police officer with a weapon, Section 270.01(1)(a), Criminal Code;
– one count, flight from police, Section 320.17, Criminal Code;
– one count, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, Section 320.13(1), Criminal Code;
– one count, unsafe storage of firearm, Section 86(2), Criminal Code;
– one count, mischief over $5,000, Section 430(3), Criminal Code;
– one count, possession of a prohibited firearm knowing possession is unauthorized, Section 92(1), Criminal Code;
– one count, possession of a prohibited firearm with ammunition in motor vehicle, Section 94(1), Criminal Code;
– one count, possession of prohibited firearm with ammunition without a license, Section 95(1), Criminal Code; and
– one count, possession of a firearm with tampered serial number, Section 108(1)(b), Criminal Code.
Rachelle Ballantyne is facing additional charges of:
– one count, arson – disregard for human life, Section 433(a), Criminal Code;
– two counts, assault with a weapon, Section 267(a), Criminal Code;
– one count, possession of a weapon for dangerous purpose, Section 88, Criminal Code;
– one count, breaking, entering and committing – residence, Section 348(1)(b), Criminal Code;
– one count, administer noxious thing, Section 245, Criminal Code;
– one count, robbery, Section 344(1)(b), Criminal Code;
– two counts, possession of a weapon contrary to order, Section117.01(1), Criminal Code.
Cody Naytowhow is facing additional charges of:
– one count, breaking, entering and committing – residence, Section 348(1)(b), Criminal Code;
– one count, robbery, Section 344(1)(b), Criminal Code; and
– two counts, fail to comply with probation order, Section 733.1(1), Criminal Code.
