Border runner faces slew of charges

A North Dakota man is facing 10 charges after fleeing the Emerson port of entry and leading RCMP on a high-speed chase on Highway 75.

Emerson RCMP say they were notified of the situation by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), at 6:23 p.m. on Sept. 12.

Police say the suspect entered Canada from North Dakota, stopped at the Emerson port of entry but fled at a high rate of speed when directed to secondary screening.

Officers from the Emerson, Morris, and St Pierre RCMP detachments as well as the Integrated Border Enforcement Team (IBET) responded.

Morris RCMP was first to make contact, attempting a traffic stop south of Morris.

The vehicle continued and St Pierre RCMP blocked the highway at the intersection of Hwy. 75 and Provincial Road 210.

“The suspect vehicle maneuvered around the police cars, drove through the ditch, narrowly missed an officer and continued north on Highway 75,” police said in a news release.

Following a pursuit, RCMP were able to bring the vehicle to a stop while still on Hwy. 75.

At 7:05 p.m., only 32 minutes after the incident began, Scott Weinberger, 44, was taken into custody.

Police say a loaded handgun was found on the front passenger seat and different types of ammunition were also seized.

Weinberger was remanded into custody on charges that included dangerous operation of a conveyance, unsafe storage of a firearm, flight from a peace officer, assault of a peace officer with a weapon, known unauthorized possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle, possession of prohibited ammunition in a motor vehicle, possession of a loaded prohibited firearm with readily accessible ammunition, export of a firearm and export of prohibited ammunition.

Superintendent Chris Hastie, district commander of the Manitoba East District, said it was a dangerous situation.

“The rapid sharing of information between CBSA and the RCMP allowed our officers to respond immediately and safely stop the suspect,” he said. “We are now working closely with CBSA, law enforcement in the United States and our colleagues within RCMP federal policing to determine why the male fled the border.”

Janalee Bell-Boychuk, Prairie regional director of CBSA said that relationship of working with the RCMP keeps Canadian communities safe.

“By aligning our enforcement efforts and working together, the CBSA and RCMP are able to respond quickly and stop people who attempt to import weapons illegally, break our laws, and cross illegally into Canada,” she said.

One police vehicle was damaged but there were no injuries.