Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police
On Monday, September 18, 2023, Whitehorse RCMP arrested two people in the Wolf Creek area after receiving multiple calls about property offences. Osheana Kuster and Bobby Ward were held for first court appearances on September 19, 2023, related to outstanding warrants and new charges.
Police received an initial call about the theft of a vehicle on Monday morning. Witnesses provided descriptors of the suspects and vehicles which allowed police to identify initial suspects. Officers on duty conducted patrols in a variety of areas associated to the suspects, who were not initially located.
Further calls about break and enters, thefts, and suspicious people over the next several hours provided descriptions of similar suspects. At approximately 3:00pm, police received a call of a property offence in progress in the Wolf Creek neighbourhood south of Whitehorse, and were able to attend the area while the suspects were known to be nearby. Officers from Whitehorse RCMP general duty, general investigative section (GIS), and Yukon RCMP police dog service (PDS) located and arrested Osheana Kuster and Bobby Ward with assistance from witnesses.
Osheana Kuster, age 25 of Whitehorse, and Bobby Ward, age 40 also of Whitehorse, are facing the following charges:
- Two counts, break and enter to a dwelling house, contrary to section 348(1)(b), Criminal Code;
- Two counts, theft under $5000, contrary to section 334(b), Criminal Code;
- Resist police officers in the execution of their duty, contrary to section 129(a) Criminal Code;
- Theft of motor vehicle, contrary to section 333.1 Criminal Code;
- Possession of property obtained by crime over $5000, contrary to section 354(1)(a) Criminal Code.
Mr. Ward is also facing additional charges of breach of probation order, contrary to section 733.1(1) Criminal Code, and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, contrary to section 320.13(1) Criminal Code.
After their first court appearance on Tuesday, both were remanded, to remain in custody pending further court appearance.
Police conducted an ongoing risk assessment throughout the call in order to ensure safety of the public and police, and police did not believe that there was a public safety risk related to this investigation. Officers appreciated cooperation from witnesses, including those who were stopped in vehicles on the Alaska Highway. It allows police to ensure that the suspects had not been picked up in a vehicle and transported out of the contained area where the Police Dog Services track took place.