Sask. RCMP charged a 22-year-old after locking up Teen

Battlefords RCMP have charged a 22-year-old man with eight criminal offences after a missing teenager was found in a locked motel room bathroom in North Battleford.

Officers responded to a report of a missing female teenager at 6 p.m. on April 25, 2026. The investigation led police to a motel in the city, where they located an adult male. A search of the room revealed the teenager in a locked bathroom. She had serious injuries.

Deland (Nipin) Okanee, 22, of Turtleford, Sask., is charged with:

• Sexual assault (s. 271)
• Abduction of a person under 16 (s. 280(1))
• Sexual interference (s. 151)
• Forcible confinement – two counts (s. 279(2))
• Assault (s. 266)
• Obstructing justice (s. 139(1))
• Uttering threats (s. 264.1(1)(a))

Okanee is scheduled to appear in North Battleford Provincial Court on May 22, 2026.

RCMP said they would not be releasing further details out of respect for the victim’s privacy and well-being.

If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence or assault, support is available 24/7 through the Saskatchewan Sexual Assault Helpline at 1-888-411-8111.