Yellowknife RCMP arrest three people in stolen vehicle incidents

RCMP in Yellowknife say they have arrested three people in two separate incidents involving vehicles that were reported stolen.

In a Monday press release, police accused Austin Moore, 27, of driving a stolen vehicle and fleeing RCMP during a traffic stop early on November 22.

Police claimed that Moore narrowly missed and endangered the investigating officer while fleeing in the vehicle.

RCMP further alleged that while officers were trying to arrest Moore on November 28, he called 9-1-1 to report hearing gunshots in Ndılǫ to divert police attention and avoid arrest. Police said he was later arrested without incident.

Moore was subject to an arrest warrant for outstanding charges at the time, RCMP said.

“Making false emergency reports poses a significant risk to the public as it diverts police resources from other high-priority calls,” Insp Byron Donovan, acting commander of the Yellowknife detachment, stated.

“Fortunately, in this case, our officers were able to quickly determine that the call was false and apprehended the subject.”

RCMP charged Moore with public mischief, assaulting a police officer with a weapon, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, flight from a police officer, operating a vehicle without valid insurance, robbery, intimidation and failing to comply with an order.

Police said Moore has been remanded into custody and is scheduled to appear on the charges in Territorial Court on Tuesday.

In a subsequent news release on Monday, police said they had arrested Joshua Desjarlais, 33, and an unnamed 37-year-old woman after locating a vehicle at a Yellowknife gas station, which had been reported stolen, and locating 292 grams of suspected crack cocaine on December 6.

Police said they began investigating after receiving information that two people were travelling to Behchokọ̀ in the vehicle to deliver drugs.

RCMP said Desjarlais was out on bail at the time of his arrest.

Police charged Desjarlais with possession of property obtained by crime, possession of crack cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, operation of a motor vehicle while prohibited and failure to comply with release order conditions.

RCMP said Desjarlais was remanded into custody while the woman was released to appear in court at a later date. Police said they were not naming the woman as her charges have not been formally sworn in court.