St. Paul RCMP Traffic Services check stop leads to drug, currency seizure and 29 Charges

A recent check stop near Elk Point by the RCMP has yielded, drugs, money and charges.

According to the RCMP, “On Nov. 27, at approximately 8:00 p.m, St. Paul RCMP Traffic Services conducted a Check stop on Highway 646 east of Elk Point.”

While conducting the Check stop a vehicle travelled through and was stopped by one of the officers. The officer conducted a mandatory alcohol screening on the male driver and the result was a fail, which indicates that the driver is believed to be impaired by alcohol. Upon police attempting to have the driver exit the vehicle, the driver of the vehicle accelerated, striking the officer with part of the vehicle. The police officer was not seriously injured. Police attempted to catch the vehicle; however, due to the delay, the driver was able to evade apprehension.

The vehicle was later located by the Elk Point RCMP Detachment and St. Paul Traffic Services. With careful planning and the assistance of the Bonnyville RCMP, St. Paul RCMP and St. Paul RCMP Police Dog Services, a tire deflation device was successfully deployed to intercept the suspect’s vehicle. A short distance later, the vehicle was disabled and two males and three females were arrested and taken into police custody.

Cpl. Deanna Fontaine is a Media Relations Officer with the Alberta RCMP.

“A search of the vehicle resulted in a seizure of the following: approximately 28 grams of suspected Cocaine, 57 grams of suspected methamphetamine, 1 gram of suspected cannabis, 6 grams of suspected hashish, 45 pills of suspected Xanax, 8 grams of suspected fentanyl and over $2,000 in Canadian currency,” Cpl. Fontaine said.

Ashley Dawn Cardinal, 35, of Calgary, Kayla Eunice Moosewah, 30, of Edmonton and Lance Kyle Lapatak, 31, of Saddle Lake Cree Nation were charged with:

• Possession of a controlled substance (fentanyl)
• Possession for the purpose of trafficking (cocaine)
• Possession for the purpose of trafficking (methamphetamine)

Naomie Sophia Cutknife, 32, of Saddle Lake Cree Nation was charged with:

• Possession of a controlled substance (fentanyl)
• Possession for the purpose of trafficking (cocaine)
• Possession for the purpose of trafficking (methamphetamine)
• Operating a motor vehicle while being pursued

Sean Wilfred Moosewah, 32, of Saddle Lake Cree Nation was charged with:

• Operating a motor vehicle while being pursued
• Possession of a controlled substance (fentanyl)
• Possession for the purpose of trafficking (cocaine)
• Possession for the purpose of trafficking (methamphetamine)
• Assaulting a police officer with a weapon
• Operating a conveyance while prohibited (x3)
• Impaired operation of a motor vehicle
• Operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration exceeding .08
• Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle
• Failing to comply with the conditions of a release order (x5)

Following judicial hearings, Naomie Cutknife was released to appear in St. Paul Provincial Court on Dec. 2, 2021.

Kayla Moosewah was released to appear in St Paul Provincial Court on Jan. 6, 2021. Ashley Cardinal was released to attend court in St. Paul Provincial Court on Dec. 2, 2021. Sean Moosewah was remanded into custody and is scheduled to appear in St. Paul Provincial Court on Dec. 2, 2021, to speak to bail. Lance Lapatak is scheduled to attend court in St. Paul Provincial Court on Dec. 2, 2021.

St. Paul RCMP Traffic Services would like to take this opportunity to remind the public that with the Christmas season upon us, if you are going to consume alcohol, plan ahead and stay safe.

“St Paul RCMP Traffic Services is committed to creating safer roads and the apprehension of travelling criminals,” Cpl. Fontaine stated.