Three adult males were taken into custody by the RCMP in Stoughton on Wednesday, and no firearms were discharged during this incident.
As a result of a month-long investigation, Saskatchewan Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU) executed simultaneous Controlled Drug and Substances Act (CDSA) search warrants at two locations in and near the community of Stoughton, SK. RCMP Emergency Response Teams from Regina and Manitoba were utilized to gain entry.
The charges filed against the three men are as follows:
Dustin Rowlands, 24, of Stoughton, faces a total of nine firearms and other offences including careless storage of a firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of a prohibited firearm, possession of stolen property, possession of a controlled substance-Fentanyl.
James Thomas, 25, of Edmonton, Alta., faces a total of nine firearms and other offences including careless storage of a firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of a prohibited firearm, possession of stolen property-firearm and possession of fentanyl.
Randy Payton, 25, of Stoughton, faces 27 charges for firearms and other offences, including possession of a prohibited firearm, possession of stolen property, firearm, use of a firearm in a careless manner, possession of a weapon dangerous to public peace, possession of a weapon obtained by commission of an offence and possession of a controlled substance, Fentanyl.
All three accused appeared in court in Weyburn on Wednesday, and were remanded until they appeared in Regina Provincial Court on Friday.
The CFSEU is funded by the Province of Saskatchewan, and is an integrated policing task force formed to investigate existing and emerging organized criminal groups. Saskatchewan CFSEU has units located in Regina, Saskatoon and Prince Albert with a common mandate to disrupt and dismantle criminal organizations.
The CFSEU executed search warrants on Wednesday morning in relation to an ongoing investigation.
The first search warrant was executed at a residence on the 300 block of Forget Street in Stoughton, and the second search warrant was executed at a rural residence in the RM of Tecumseh northeast of Stoughton.
RCMP said the reports of a “standoff” taking place in Stoughton during this incident are not accurate.
CFSEU was assisted by the RCMP “F” and “D” (Manitoba) Emergency Response Teams, RCMP Federal Serious and Organized Crime, Saskatchewan Police Dog Services, Weyburn Police Service, Estevan Police Service and members from multiple “F” Division RCMP detachments.
