Hinse was arrested Sept. 2, 2020, after Battlefords RCMP say they observed people in parked vehicles in North Battleford “interacting” with each other. They saw weapons in one of the vehicles and knew one of the individuals had an outstanding warrant. When police searched one of the vehicles they seized weapons, a Taser, cocaine, crack cocaine, meth and marijuana. They also arrested Matthew Greer, 34, of Biggar, and Shynia Skeavington, 24, and Rae Ahenkew, 40, both of Mosquito First Nation. Ahenakew is scheduled to appear next in North Battleford Provincial Court on Feb. 22 to enter a plea. Skeavington had an appearance in North Battleford Provincial Court on Feb. 10 and the matter was adjourned until March 17.
Melko, Ballantyne and the young offender are charged with second-degree murder, break and enter with intent to commit an indictable offence, disguise with intent, carry a weapon for the purpose of committing an offence, possession of a rearm without a license, and unauthorized possession of a firearm in a vehicle. Maclean was charged with manslaughter, unauthorized possession of a firearm in a vehicle, and break and enter with intent to commit an indictable offence. RCMP found Gatzke in his home in the 100 block of 26 Street West in Battleford on Oct. 18, 2019. He was badly injured and taken to the North Battleford hospital by EMS where he was later declared deceased.
RCMP seized a significant amount of drugs during a raid of a rural residence north of Biggar in May 2020. During the drug bust an RCMP officer was shot. He suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Kurt Miller and Mitch Hutchinson were arrested.
Lisa Joy, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter A trial is tentatively set for a man charged in a major drug bust north of Biggar where an RCMP officer was shot last year. Kurt Miller, 39, is facing charges in North Battleford Provincial Court in connection to the incident in the R.M. of Glenside in May 2020. Miller’s matter will be brought before the court again on Feb. 18, 2021, to confirm the trial date of May 10 to 13, 2021.
Swiftwolfe had another appearance scheduled in North Battleford Provincial Court on Jan. 28, 2021, and the matter was adjourned to Feb. 19 due to the number of charges he is facing and the complexity of the case. The adjournment was at the request of Swiftwolfe’s legal aid defence lawyer. Swiftwolfe was wanted since April 2020 for breaching his probation conditions and he was considered armed and dangerous. He was wanted on warrants for charges including seven counts of failure to comply with a probation order, possession of a weapon contrary to a probation order, two counts of flight from police, two counts of assault, two counts of uttering threats, dangerous operation of a vehicle, operating a vehicle while prohibited, mischief, and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.
Swiftwolfe was wanted on 35 charges, including assault, uttering threats, weapons-related offences, and flight from police. While police were searching for him in 2020, they issued a media release saying they were concerned about the safety of Moosomin First Nation residents while Swiftwolfe was at large. He was located after several RCMP detachments worked together to find him. When police arrested him on Highway 40, near Sweet Grass First Nation, on Dec. 6, 2020, they found a loaded firearm in the vehicle that was within his reach. Cassandra Fox, 24, was with Swiftwolfe and also arrested. At the time, she was wanted on warrants for assault with a weapon and failure to comply with a release order. She was scheduled to enter a plea and election in North Battleford Provincial Court on Jan. 6, 2021, but failed to appear and a warrant for her arrest was issued.