Flight from police leads to weapons and drug related charges for Cold Lake man

One man has charged with weapons and drug-related charges stemming from two incidents with police over the past month and another will face a charge for failing to comply with a release order.

On February 24, members from the Cold Lake RCMP Detachment responded to a report of dangerous driving after a vehicle fled from a Cold Lake Peace Officer.

A traffic stop had been done on 10th Street in Cold Lake after the peace officer had observed a male slumped over the steering wheel of a vehicle, police said.

When the peace officer tried to get ID from the suspect, they fled in their vehicle.

RCMP later found the vehicle abandoned a short time later after it had crashed into the ditch on Baywood Road in Cold Lake.

When searching the vehicle, police found a loaded rifle and ammunition which were in the back seat.

Police said that further investigating, they were able to identify the male suspect.

Then on March 16, members from the Elk Point RCMP Detachment and the Lakeland Crime Reduction Unit found a suspicious vehicle while doing proactive patrols on Range Road 24A in Fishing Lake Metis Settlement.

Police later discovered that the driver was the same individual that had been identified from the February 24th investigation.

After conducting a traffic stop with the vehicle in the driveway of a residence, police saw the licence plate was not a match to the vehicle.

The two vehicle occupants were placed under arrest after a can of bear mace was observed in plain view by police.

Police also found cocaine, methamphetamine, and other illicit substances during the investigation.

Omar Adam Csurdi, 23, of Cold Lake was charged with the following offences that occurred on February 24 in Cold Lake:

•         Dangerous Operation of a motor vehicle;
•         Flight from a Peace Officer;
•         Failure to stop after an accident;
•         Careless use of a firearm x2;
•         Unsafe storage of a firearm;
•         Possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle x3;
•         Unauthorized possession of a firearm x3;
•         Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose;
•         Possession of a weapon contrary to an on order x2;

Csurdi was also charged with the following offences that occurred on March 16 in Fishing Lake:

•         Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose;
•         Possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle;
•         Possession of a weapon contrary to an order;
•         Possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking x4;
•         Operation of a motor vehicle while prohibited;
•         Operation of an unregistered motor vehicle;
•         Operation of an uninsured motor vehicle;

Csurdi was held for a bail hearing where he was released by a Justice of the Peace on a $500 cash release order with conditions.

The second male was charged with failing to comply with his release order and was released by police on an undertaking with conditions.

The second male’s name cannot be released at this time as the information has yet to be sworn, police said Tuesday.

Csurdi is scheduled to attend Cold Lake Provincial Court on April 21, 2021 and to attend St. Paul Provincial Court on April 22, 2021.