Officers began searching for a suspect and stolen vehicle on Monday over the lunch hour, after Punnichy RCMP received a report of a vehicle theft in Punnichy.

A few hours later, when spotted by RCMP, the vehicle would not stop when officers tried to pull it over. Around 8:20 p.m. Monday night, Punnichy RCMP received another report of a vehicle theft, this time on the George Gordon First Nation.

RCMP say a man approached a group of individuals, discharged a firearm and stole one of their vehicles. No one was injured but the investigation determined the same person was involved in all three incidents.

Officers located the suspect vehicle twice Tuesday morning and say it fled in an erratic manner both times. The second time, officers followed the fleeing vehicle through George Gordon First Nation, through Punnichy and into a rural area. The suspect vehicle was then disabled, and the driver taken into custody.

Thirty-nine-year-old Michael McNab from Punnichy is facing 28 charges including assault with a weapon, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and flight from peace officer. He was in Regina court Wednesday. As well McNab was wanted by Melville RCMP on charges including uttering threats and operation of a conveyance while impaired in relation to a March 9, 2023, incident in Kelliher, Saskatchewan.

Fort Qu’appelle RCMP, Melville RCMP, Wadena RCMP and officers from Saskatchewan RCMP’s Combined Traffic Services Saskatchewan Fort Qu’Appelle unit and Yorkton Police Dog Services assisted in this investigation.

39-year-old Michael McNab from Punnichy is charged with:
– one count, unauthorized possession of a firearm, Section 91(1), Criminal Code;
– one count, discharge firearm with intent, Section 244.2(1), Criminal Code;
– two counts, assault with weapon, Section 267(a), Criminal Code;
– two counts, robbery with firearm, Section 344(1)(a.1), Criminal Code;
– five counts, fail to comply with release order condition, Section 145(5)(a), Criminal Code;
– four counts, fail to comply with undertaking, Section 145(4)(a), Criminal Code;
– four counts, operation of a conveyance while prohibited, Section 320.18(1), Criminal Code;
– one count, possession of firearm while knowing possession is unauthorized, Section 92(1), Criminal Code;
– two counts, possession of firearm contrary to order, Section 117.01(1), Criminal Code;
– three counts, flight from peace officer, Section, 320.17, Criminal Code; and
– three counts, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, Section 320.13, Criminal Code.