Mounties arrest 5 people, seize guns and drugs during latest gang crackdown in Pelican Narrows

RCMPsay they are ramping up efforts to crackdown on gangs in Pelican Narrows a northern Saskatchewan community undera local state of emergency due to high crime rates.

Officers arrested five people and seized five illegal guns, 21 grams of meth, 12 grams of cocaine, ammo and a sum of cash over the course of three days in the northern Saskatchewan community, according to an RCMP news release.

"Together, we continue to take these dangerous weapons and drugs off the streets which is incredibly important in reducing violence in Pelican Narrows,"Sgt. Ryan Davies, commander of the Pelican Narrows detachment, said in the release.

RCMP say the weekend of busts began last Friday after a report of multiple people shooting guns. A man threw a gun away while fleeing the scene, but it was recovered by a police dog shortly after, police say. RCMP say officers found and arrested the 20-year old, who was in possession of ammunition. He now faces multiple gun charges.

A second round of gunshots were fired inside a home either late Friday or early Saturday morning, the release said. Officers seized two illegal guns at the home before finding and arresting a 28-year old man.

RCMP say he has been charged with one count of weapons trafficking, one count of unsafe storage of firearms, and three counts of weapons possession contrary to order and failing to surrender authorization.

RCMP also conducted a routine search for a man at a Pelican Narrows home on Saturday. They say it lead to the 24-year-old's arrest and a seizure of ammunition, 20 grams of methamphetamine, 12 grams of cocaine and a sum of cash.

He is now facing multiple drug trafficking charges and a weapons charge, police said.

WATCH | RCMP ramp up efforts to crack down on gangs in Pelican Narrows:

RCMP ramp up efforts to crack down on gangs in Pelican Narrows

7 months ago

Duration 1:31

Police say officers arrested five people and seized five illegal guns, drugs, ammunition and cash over the course of three days in the northern Saskatchewan community.

On Sunday, RCMPreceived a report of two people shooting at a man on a residential street, the release said, but the suspect fled the scene once police officers arrived. RCMP say a gun was thrown behind a home during the pursuit,butlater recovered by a police dog.

Police say officers arrested a 23-year old man who now faces charges including assault with a weapon, possession of a restricted firearm and possession of firearm with tampered serial number. A youth was also arrested but no information has been issued on charges.

Officers found a fifth illegal gun on Sunday while searching for a wanted youth at a Pelican Narrows home, the release said.

Leaders in the remote Saskatchewan communityhave been callingfor help for some time. They say residents in Pelican Narrows are living in fear daily because of drug-fuelled violence, stabbings, shootings and suicide, which are the result of historical injustice and geographic isolation.

Pelican Narrows is one of the eight communities that make up Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation. Its chief Karen Birdsaid last month Pelican Narrows had a plan to boost RCMP presence and increase security for health centre staff.

"This move is a significant stride in our long battle against the crime and violence that have plagued one of our communities, they're the largest community,"she said.

"So this crackdown is a vital step in sending a clear message that criminal activities have no place in our community."

Bird also encourages residents to report crimes to theRCMP when they witness them.

"It's OK because this is part of the safety," Bird said.

"We want everybody, our children, to be able to walk around the community safely, our elders.And you know that's our priority to create that safety in that community and we have to work together."

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'Steep escalation' in violence in remote Sask. community, doctor says

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Dr. John-Michael Stevens, a physician who works in Pelican Narrows, says intensifying violence and the ensuing efforts to treat people impacted is taking away from the services he and his colleagues can provide to the community.

Bird saidincreasing RCMPpresence is just one of the measures the First Nation is taking to improve safety.

Former Saskatoon and Prince Albert police chief Troy Cooper was appointed as a new community safety lead for Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation.

"One of the things that we'd like to see as a community is having more officers from our communities that speak the language that are, you know, from the Cree Nation and that can help our Cree Nation," said Bird.

He is tasked withhelping to develop a plan aimed at curbing gangs, violence and drugs in Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation.