Pair in minivan get rude awakening; police seize weapons, cash, drugs

Two people have been charged with more than 30 drug, weapon and other offences after Cold Lake RCMP were called to a suspicious minivan parked in a ditch.

Officers were called to the vehicle at Township Road 604 near Range Road 422 on April 15, a news release said Friday. When they arrived on scene they found two people sleeping in the front seats with a man in the driver’s seat holding a loaded 20-gauge tactical shotgun in his lap.

The officers woke up the man and a woman and arrested them.

Alongside the shotgun, police found a baseball bat, hunting knife and ammunition inside the vehicle. They also found what appeared to be 22 grams of crystal meth, 41/2 grams of cocaine and nearly $6,000 worth of cash.

“We appreciate tips from the public regarding suspicious activity or vehicles,” Cpl. Marie-eve Mackenzie-plante said. “This one call resulted in 33 charges being laid and removed illicit drugs from our community.”

Luke White, 33, of St. Paul, faces 25 charges, including operating a vehicle while impaired by drugs or alcohol, operating a vehicle without authorization, possession for the purpose of trafficking, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and possession of a weapon contrary to a court order.

Tamara Whiskeyjack, 27, of Saddle Lake, faces eight charges, including unauthorized possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm in motor vehicle, possession for the purpose of trafficking and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.

Both are scheduled to appear in Cold Lake Provincial Court on June 26.

COLD LAKE RCMP Cold Lake RCMP seized items including a loaded 20-gauge tactical shotgun and about $5,985 in cash, as well as what is believed to be crystal meth, cocaine and drug paraphernalia.