A 26-year-old man is facing an attempted murder charge after an RCMP officer was struck by an SUV during a pursuit north of Meadow Lake.
The incident began around 12:15 p.m. on March 23, when a Meadow Lake RCMP Crime Reduction Team officer observed a white SUV run a stop sign at First Avenue and Centre Street.
Police said the vehicle fled at a high rate of speed toward Highway 55 before a traffic stop could be initiated.
Officers attempted to stop the SUV multiple times, but the driver continued to flee.
Around 1:30 p.m., an RCMP officer deployed a tire deflation device on Highway 4, north of the junction with Highway 55.
Police said the SUV struck the officer as the spike belt was being deployed.
The officer was taken to hospital with injuries described as non-life-threatening.
The SUV continued after hitting the spike belt and was later found abandoned about four kilometres away.
Officers with the Crime Reduction Team and Police Dog Services tracked two suspects who fled on foot and arrested a man and woman at the scene.
Police said neither suspect reported injuries.
As a result of the investigation, Keistein Michell, 26, of Prince Albert, is charged with:
- attempted murder
- aggravated assault of a police officer
- assault of a police officer with a weapon
- failure to stop after an accident resulting in bodily harm
- flight from police
- dangerous operation of a motor vehicle
- impaired operation of a motor vehicle
- impaired operation over 80 mg per cent
- failure to comply with an undertaking
- resisting or obstructing a police officer
Jasmine Beatty, 26, of Deschambeault Lake, is charged with:
- flight from police
- resisting or obstructing a police officer
Both accused appeared in Meadow Lake Provincial Court on March 26.
Saskatchewan RCMP Major Crime Branch’s Battlefords Serious Crimes Unit continues to investigate, with support from Meadow Lake RCMP Crime Reduction Team, Saskatchewan Enforcement Response Teams and RCMP Forensic Identification Services.
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