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.
The RCMP responded and started an investigation into the Poundmaker Cree Nation. A female was assaulted, and a male was threatened with a firearm. The firearm was discharged into the air, and they forced the male victim to drive them to a residence on Poundmaker Cree Nation.
At the residence, the suspects got into an altercation with another male, demanding the keys for a truck parked on the driveway. The keys were not provided, and the suspects fled the scene on foot.
The female victim, who was initially assaulted, is reported to have non-life-threatening injuries. The male victim did not report injuries.
The Saskatchewan RCMP’s Remotely Piloted Aircraft System was deployed to search the area. The officers located a female running behind a residence on Poundmaker Cree Nation, and they arrested 21-year-old Jessica Fox at the scene without incident.
As a result of the continued investigation, on August 18, officers located the male suspect at a residence on Poundmaker Cree Nation and arrested 27-year-old Durrell Bearsears from Little Pine First Nation without incident.
Battlefords, Maidstone, Unity RCMP, and Meadow Lake Police Dog Services assisted in this investigation.
Durrell Bearsears is from Little Pine First Nation and is charged with:
one count, robbery with a firearm
one count, possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle
one count, discharge firearm with intent
one count, uttering threats against a person
two counts, weapons possession contrary to order
one count, assault with a weapon
one count, careless use of a firearm
one count of failing to comply with a probation order
Durrell Bearsears was also arrested on an outstanding warrant from the Cut Knife RCMP.
Jessica Fox is charged with:
one count, robbery with a firearm
one count, assault
one count, uttering threats against a person
one count, possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle
Durrell Bearsears and Jessica Fox appeared in North Battleford Provincial Court on August 19, 2024.