Counts withdrawn for pair charged in use of force arrest

Two men facing trial in a use of force arrest at Maskwacis this spring have had all their charges withdrawn.

Kyle Dean Lightning, 28, and Barry Junior Saddleback, 19, both of Maskwacis, were facing six and eight counts respectively, but saw their charges withdrawn in Wetaskiwin provincial court on July 18, 2022. The pair were initially scheduled for trial that day.

It was on March 26, 2022, when Maskwacis RCMP received a complaint of two individuals discharging a firearm in the Samson townsite. Mounties say officers were able to quickly locate and arrest two individuals and seize a loaded sawed off shotgun as well as a loaded sawed off .22 calibre rifle.

As a result of the investigation, RCMP charged two suspects with five firearms offences and resisting arrest.