Couple charged in violent Sask. carjacking as the search continues for two more suspects

A man and a woman were charged Thursday in a violent carjacking that sparked a manhunt and alerted several dangerous individuals northeast of Prince Albert, but Saskatchewan RCMP say two other suspects remain at large.

A group of masked people allegedly shot someone and stole their vehicle near the White Star grain elevator before 8:30 a.m. Thursday, police said at the time. The victim was taken to hospital with unknown injuries and remains there, RCMP said.

Police issued four dangerous persons alerts Thursday shortly before 10 a.m. CST as they chased the suspects north toward Thunder Rapids. RCMP said at the time they believed the suspects were involved in multiple armed vehicle robberies, had a gun and should be considered dangerous.

The suspects fled on foot after their vehicle reportedly collided with a piece of heavy equipment around 10:30 a.m. Thursday on Highway 123 near Thunder Rapids, about 170 kilometers northeast of Prince Albert.

RCMP said Friday they were able to arrest the pair of suspects later that day at Tobin Lake after they were spotted by a police helicopter flying along the bank of the Saskatchewan River, about three kilometers from where they last entered the bush from the highway.

An 18-year-old woman and a 33-year-old man from Prince Albert each face one charge of aggravated assault, robbery with a firearm, discharging a firearm with intent to cause damage, as well as six other illegal weapons charges. They are expected to appear in Prince Albert Provincial Court on Monday, October 28.

However, two other suspects have not yet been located in the mossy, boggy terrain “despite extensive ground and aerial searches by police in thick, dense swampland brush,” RCMP said in a news release Friday.

Mounties say they are still searching for the remaining two suspects and are investigating to determine any connection between the suspects and other incidents in the days leading up to Thursday’s reported attacks.

The week before, Prince Albert RCMP received reports of two separate gunshot carjackings in the rural community of Garden River on Oct. 17.

“We ask the public to remain vigilant and not approach suspicious people and to report any suspicious activity to police by calling 911 in an emergency and 310-RCMP in non-emergencies,” RCMP said in a news release Friday.

Residents and businesses between Holbein, past Nipawin and into the Thunder Rapids area, especially along Highways 355 and 55, are asked to monitor video surveillance, doorbell camera and dashcam footage for signs of a black Honda CRV with three suspects clothed. black and bandanas between October 23 and the morning of October 24.

“Saskatchewan RCMP are also asking residents of these areas to check on their neighbors to ensure everyone’s safety,” the news release said.