The RCMP say six guns – including four that were loaded – were located and seized from a vehicle during a search.
On Saturday, the North Battleford Crime Reduction Team (CRT) was conducting enforcement operations in the Poundmaker First Nation area with the assistance of Cut Knife RCMP. A traffic stop was conducted on a black Escalade SUV, occupied by a male driver, female passenger and two dogs.
Officers determined the passenger, 27-year-old Caroline Eagleshield, was wanted for assault with a weapon and failure to appear in North Battleford court. Caroline was arrested for her outstanding warrants. Officers located unstamped tobacco in the vehicle contrary to the Federal Excise Act, which resulted in the arrest of the driver of the vehicle, 40-year-old Robert Noorgard.
When officers searched the vehicle, they located a loaded, sawed-off shotgun and both people were re-arrested for possession of a loaded, prohibited firearm.
RCMP say another loaded gun was located under blankets in the vehicle back seat. A hidden compartment was located in the vehicle underneath two dogs described as aggressive. Once the dogs were removed, police located and seized four additional firearms from the hidden compartment.
Corporal Sowers of North Battleford RCMP CRT said, “Two firearms had serial numbers altered or removed, and three firearms were cut down to a prohibited length.
Meanwhile another hidden vehicle compartment was located, searched and quantities of suspected drugs were located. A collapsible baton and a quantity of cash were also seized. Noorgard, from Cutknife and Eagleshield from Sweetgrass First Nation face a combined 79 charges when they appear in North Battleford Provincial Court Monday. As well, Robert Noorgard was wearing soft body armour and a large hunting knife at the time of his arrest.
Robert Noorgard has 32 charges:
– 3 counts, unsafe storage of a firearm, section 86(2) of the Criminal Code
– 9 counts, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, section 88(1) of the Criminal Code
– 6 counts, possession of a firearm without being the license holder, section 91(1) of the Criminal Code
– 6 counts, occupant of a motor vehicle in which the person knows there is a prohibited firearm, section 94(1) of the Criminal Code
– 3 counts, possession of a loaded prohibited firearm or restricted firearm, or an unloaded prohibited firearm or restricted firearm together with readily accessible ammunition that is capable of being discharged in the firearm, section 95(1) of the Criminal Code
– 2 counts, remove serial number on a firearm, section 108(1)(a) of the Criminal Code
– 2 counts, possession a substance for the purpose of tracking (methamphetamine and cocaine, respectively), section 5(2) of the Criminal Code
– 1 count unlawfully possess unstamped tobacco, section 32(1) of the Excise Act 2001
Caroline Eagleshield from Sweetgrass First Nation, SK, has 47 charges:
– 4 counts, unsafe storage of a firearm, section 86(2) of the Criminal Code
– 8 counts, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, section 88(1) of the Criminal Code
– 6 counts, possession of a firearm without being the license holder, section 91(1) of the Criminal Code
– 6 counts, occupant of a motor vehicle in which the person knows there is a prohibited firearm, section 94(1) of the Criminal Code
– 3 counts, possession of a loaded prohibited firearm or restricted firearm, or an unloaded prohibited firearm or restricted firearm together with readily accessible ammunition that is capable of being discharged in the firearm, section 95(1) of the Criminal Code
– 2 counts, remove serial number on a firearm, section 108(1)(a) of the Criminal Code
– 2 counts, possession a substance for the purpose of tracking (methamphetamine and cocaine, respectively), section 5(2) of the Criminal Code
– 15 counts, failure to comply with a release order, section 145(5)(a) of the Criminal Code
– 1 count unlawfully possess unstamped tobacco, section 32(1) of the Excise Act 2001
