Thieves shot at, arrested

An RM of Hanover man and two people from the RM of Emerson-Franklin were shot at and later arrested after stealing fuel from an RM of Dufferin area property. The involvement also led to the arrest of the 66-year-old property owner.

Pembina Valley RCMP said on Aug. 15 at about 10:45 p.m. they responded to a call of a theft in progress.

Police say four suspects had gone to the property earlier in the day, and then returned that evening in two vehicles that were later confirmed to have been stolen from Watrous, Sask.

“The property owner, a 66-year-old male, was alerted to the activity by a motion camera and went to the area, where he observed suspects transferring fuel from a portable container into one of the stolen vehicles,” RCMP said. “The property owner, who had a firearm, confronted the suspects. During this confrontation, the property owner fired shots towards the vehicles.”

Three suspects remained at the scene until officers arrived and took them into custody.

Items believed to have been stolen from the property were found in the back of the truck.

A fourth suspect fled the scene in the other vehicle which was located the next morning in a canola field a few kilometres away.

RCMP charged Dylan Slaunwhite, 29, of the RM of Hanover with possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, theft under $5,000, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, possessing break-in instruments, mischief under $5,000, trespassing and failure to comply with a release order condition.

Kenneth Schultz, 47, of the RM of Emerson-Franklin was charged with theft under $5,000, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, possessing break-in instruments, mischief under $5,000 and trespassing.

A 41-year-old female from the RM of Emerson-Franklin who police did not name was charged with theft under $5,000, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, possessing break-in instruments, mischief under $5,000 and trespassing.

The 66-year-old property owner was also arrested at the scene.

He faced two charges each of careless use of a firearm, using a firearm in the commission of an offence and discharging a firearm in a reckless manner.