Guns and drugs seized by police after four people fail to pay for oil change

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Four suspected drug dealers are facing several drugs and weapons charges after being pulled over for failing to pay for an oil change.

On Sept. 18, RCMP in Wetaskiwin received a report of a group of individuals who got an oil change at a local lube shop, and intentionally drove away, said police in a release.

Members of the RCMP’s crime reduction unit quickly located the vehicle and initiated a traffic stop, but the vehicle went into reverse and rammed the officer’s vehicle.

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“It was almost like a dine and dash, but this was an oil and dash,” said Const. Troy Savinkoff.

The police were able to approach the vehicle and safely arrest all four suspects, including the driver, who attempted to flee on foot, said police.

“When the public sees a minor offence, you never know if it could turn out to be something so much worse, and we’re thankful that the person working at the lube shop didn’t try to stop them,” said Savinkoff.

“This could’ve turned into a much larger incident.”

Officers conducted a search warrant and seized a shotgun, a loaded semi-auto assault rifle, a modified rifle and approximately 15 grams of pre-measured and packaged fentanyl, and approximately 100 Gabapentin pills.

Samson Cree Nation resident Matthew James-Crane Watchmaker, 25, has been charged with five weapons offences, three counts of failure to comply with a release order, possession of possession of a firearm contrary to order and possession for the purpose of trafficking a controlled substance.

Memphis Mackinaw, 22, of Ermineskin Cree Nation, has been charged with five weapons offences, two counts of possession of a firearm contrary to order, escape lawful custody and assaulting a peace officer with a weapon.

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Daleena Cedar Soosay-Samson, 23, of Maskwacis, is charged with five weapons offences, while Shane Everette Morin, 19, of Maskwacis has been charged with five weapons offences and possession of a firearm contrary to order.

“We are happy to have quickly responded and apprehended these offenders on what began as a fairly minor offence ,” said Cpl. John Learn of the Wetaskiwin RCMP crime reduction unit in a release.

”Removing these armed individuals and their weapons from our streets is the type of impact that the Wetaskiwin Crime Reduction strives for.”

Crane-Watchmaker’s next court appearance is set for Sept. 24, while Mackinaw will appear in court on Oct. 3.

Soosay-Samson and Morin’s next court appearance is set for Sept. 23.

Cocaine seized from vehicle in Grande Prairie

Meanwhile in Grande Prairie, an early-morning traffic stop on Sept. 17, led police to seize cocaine valued at almost $55,000.

Just before 1 a.m. officers pulled over a vehicle and while speaking with the two occupants of the vehicle, noticed drug paraphernalia in plain view, said police in a release.

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Both occupants were arrested, and police seized 542 grams of suspected cocaine, with a street value of $54,200, along with other items related to drug paraphernalia associated with drug trafficking.

Marie Gelinas, 58, of Grande Prairie and a 17-year-old male from Edmonton have both been charged with one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking.

Both Gelinas and the youth have been released and are set to appear in court in Grande Prairie next month.

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