(Dreamstime)

By Sheldon Spackman

May 2023 Incident

Sentencing for pair charged following shelter-in-place incident last spring

May 3, 2024 | 3:11 PM

Sentencing has taken place for two men charged following a shelter-in-place order from police issued in Ponoka County and Maskwacis last year.

Zachary Dylan Littlechild, 31, a resident of Maskwacis, was convicted on one count of possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm with ammunition and sentenced in Wetaskiwin Court of Justice on May 2, 2024, to three years in prison. All other charges against him were withdrawn.

His co-accused, Stephen Bradley Erminskin, 39, also a resident of Maskwacis, was convicted on counts of flight from a peace officer, and possession of a prohibited firearm. He too was sentenced in Wetaskiwin Court of Justice on May 2, 2024, to 18-months behind bars. All other charges against Erminskin were withdrawn.

The sentencings took place following a trial from May 1-2, 2024, in Wetaskiwin Court of Justice.

It was on May 3, 2023, when Maskwacis RCMP received a report of shots fired at a vehicle in Maskwacis. As a result of that investigation, RCMP issued an arrest warrant for Zachary Dylan Littlechild.

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On May 7, 2023, at 4:18 p.m., Maskwacis RCMP received a report of an assault. RCMP learned that the suspect allegedly threatened and pointed a firearm at the victim. Maskwacis RCMP alerted neighbouring detachments of the suspect and possible vehicle description.

An officer with Wetaskiwin RCMP located the vehicle and observed it pull onto Highway 611. A pursuit was initiated assisted by local members. During the pursuit, Mounties say an occupant in the vehicle was observed to be shooting a firearm at police.

According to RCMP, the pursuit ended when the suspect vehicle was located rolled over on Range Road 250 South of Highway 52. The driver of the vehicle was quickly located and arrested. The passenger fled on foot.

RCMP issued an advisory to local residents and called in their Emergency Response Team, Air Services, Police Dog Service, and officers from Ponoka, Maskwacis, Red Deer, Wetaskiwin, Bashaw, and Leduc Detachments.

On May 8, 2023, at 9:30 a.m. a local resident called in a report of a suspicious person. Ponoka RCMP responded and were able to successfully locate the suspect.

A firearm was seized from the suspect during his arrest.

As a result of the investigation, RCMP charged Stephen Bradley Erminskin with:

• Possession of Firearm in Vehicle
• Possession Property over $5,000
• Dangerous Operation of Motor Vehicle
• Flight from Peace Officer
• Possession of Prohibited Firearm while Prohibited (x3)

Zachary Dylan Littlechild, was charged with:

• Flight from Peace Officer
• Assault (x2)
• Pointing Firearm (x3)
• Utter Threats (x2)
• Use Firearm while committing Indictable offence
• Remove/Deface Serial Number on Firearm
• Obstruct Peace Officer
• Possession Firearm knowing it was obtained by an Offence
• Possession Prohibited/Restricted Firearm
• Possession of Firearm in Vehicle
• Possession of Prohibited/Restricted Weapon without a Licence
• Discharge Firearm with Intent
• Careless Use of Firearm
• Fail to Remain at Scene of Accident

Related: Trial dates scheduled for shelter in place order in central Alberta this spring

Related: RCMP release further details in shelter in place incident in Ponoka County and Maskwacis

Related: Ponoka RCMP advise of police incident, advise residents to shelter in place

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