Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police
On August 16, 2024 at approximately 1:25 a.m., Cut Knife RCMP received a report of an armed robbery at a residence on Poundmaker Cree Nation.
Officers responded immediately. Investigation determined two individuals approached four victims. One adult female was assaulted. An adult male was threatened with a firearm, which was discharged into the air, and was forced to drive the suspects to a residence on Poundmaker Cree Nation.
Once at the residence, the suspects got in an altercation with another adult male, demanding the keys to a truck parked on the driveway. The keys were not provided to them and the suspects fled the scene on foot.
The adult female victim who was initially assaulted reported non-life threatening injuries to police. The adult male victim did not report physical injuries to police.
Saskatchewan RCMP’s Remotely Piloted Aircraft System was deployed to conduct searches of the area. Officers located an adult female running behind a residence on Poundmaker Cree Nation. She was arrested at the scene without incident.
As a result of continued investigation, on August 18, officers located the adult male suspect at a residence on Poundmaker Cree Nation and arrested him without incident.
27-year-old Durrell Bearsears from Little Pine First Nation is charged with:
- one count, robbery with a firearm, Section 344, Criminal Code;
- one count, possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle, Section 94(1), Criminal Code;
- one count, discharge firearm with intent, Section 244, Criminal Code;
- one count, uttering threats against a person, Section 264.1(1)(a), Criminal Code;
- two counts, weapons possession contrary to order, Section 117.01(3), Criminal Code;
- one count, assault with a weapon, Section 267(a), Criminal Code;
- one count, careless use of a firearm, Section 86(1), Criminal Code; and
- one count, fail to comply with probation order, Section 733.1(1), Criminal Code.
21-year-old Jessica Fox is charged with:
- one count, robbery with a firearm, Section 344, Criminal Code;
- one count, assault, Section 266, Criminal Code;
- one count, uttering threats against a person, Section 264.1(1)(1), Criminal Code; and
- one count, possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle, Section 94(1), Criminal Code.
Durrell Bearsears was also arrested on an outstanding warrant from Cut Knife RCMP.
Durrell Bearsears and Jessica Fox appeared in North Battleford Provincial Court on August 19, 2024.
Battlefords, Maidstone, and Unity RCMP and Meadow Lake Police Dog Services assisted in this investigation.