On March 18, 2024, Saskatchewan RCMP's Meadow Lake Crime Reduction Team (CRT) was conducting patrols in La Ronge.
Officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop on Highway #2. The vehicle did not stop and continued on at a high rate of speed. Officers followed but did not pursue it after assessing public safety risk when the vehicle entered a residential area.
Officers from the La Ronge Detachment and La Ronge CRT joined Meadow Lake CRT in the search for the vehicle.
Meadow Lake CRT located it parked in a driveway on Jimmy Roberts Road. Officers surrounded it and told the driver he was under arrest. The male drove directly toward an officer, who was on foot, at a high rate of speed. The officer had to quickly move aside to avoid being hit by the vehicle.
Given this escalated safety risk, officers entered a pursuit with the vehicle. The vehicle abruptly did a u-turn and came head-on at a police vehicle. The officer driving it had to swerve to avoid a collision.
Through a collaborative operation, officers were able to pin the vehicle in. The male continued to rev the vehicle's engine and try to free his vehicle. He also resisted arrest, however officers brought him into custody without further incident.
"This was an incredibly dangerous situation. It's very fortunate that no one – including police officers, members of the public, or the suspect himself – was hurt," says S/Sgt. Ryan How, north district manager for Saskatchewan RCMP's Saskatchewan Enforcement Response Team. "That's very much thanks to the quick thinking and collaboration of all the responding Saskatchewan RCMP officers. It's an unfortunate reality that our officers have to be ever-ready to evade deliberate attempts to harm them while they work to uphold community safety."
Further investigation determined the male was on release order conditions issued on March 11, including a 24-hour curfew. The release order was in relation to charges including possession for the purpose of trafficking and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.
During subsequent search of the male and the vehicle, officers located and seized approximately 26 grams of cocaine, 1.6 grams of methamphetamine, 3 grams of cannabis, two pharmaceutical-style pills, a knife, trafficking paraphernalia and a sum of cash.
As a result of continued investigation, 37-year-old Jade Napope from La Ronge is charged with:
- two counts, possession for the purpose of trafficking, Section 5(2), Controlled Drugs and Substances Act;
- one count, fail to stop for peace officer, Section 320.17, Criminal Code;
- one count, assault police officer with weapon, Section 270.01(2), Criminal Code;
- one count, operate a conveyance in a manner dangerous to the public, Section 320.13(1), Criminal Code;
- one count, resist arrest, Section 129(a), Criminal Code;
- one count, mischief under $5,000, Section 430(4), Criminal Code;
- four counts, fail to comply with release order condition, Section 145(5)(a), Criminal Code;
- two counts, possession of the proceeds of crime under $5,000, Section 354(1)(a), Criminal Code;
Jade Napope has been remanded into custody until he appears in La Ronge Provincial Court on April 8, 2024.