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'Getaway' gang reduced to three

Tara Kearsey
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (May 24/02) - Two more Project Getaway suspects were apprehended by police last week, leaving just three alleged drug traffickers on the run.

Frederick Douglas McDonald, turned himself in to the RCMP May 17 and Peter Mario Pagonis was apprehended by police, thanks to the assistance of a local citizen.

"There was assistance provided by a member of the general public who was kind enough to point out that he saw (Pagonis) and knew where he was, and away we went and got him," said Sgt. Phil Johnson of the RCMP "G" Division.

Pagonis and McDonald were held in custody over the weekend. Pagonis was released on bail Tuesday morning and McDonald appeared in Justice of the Peace court Tuesday.

McDonald was released on bail conditions specifying that he stay out of any licensed premises after 6 p.m., report to the RCMP three times a week, not handle or possess any firearms and that he keep the peace and show good behaviour.

McDonald faces one count of trafficking cocaine and will appear in territorial court on May 28.

Long Hai Huynh also appeared in Justice of the Peace court Tuesday. He faces one count of trafficking cocaine and one count of uttering death threats.

Huynh was released on $2,500 bail, which was immediately paid in cash to the court. He was ordered to return to territorial court May 28.

Douglas Leonard Knutson and Dayl Eldon Hein were released from custody last week.

Knutson, who faces two counts of trafficking marijuana, and Hein, who faces three counts of trafficking cocaine, have been released on strict bail conditions.

Both suspects are required to report to the RCMP three times a week, keep the peace and show good behaviour, remain within the Northwest Territories and report any change of address to the RCMP.

Rickey Raymond Storey, charged with three counts of trafficking cocaine, is the only Project Getaway suspect still in custody.

Storey was denied bail by Justice of the Peace Erik Kieken on May 16.

"I certainly feel that releasing you at this time is not in the interest of the public," said Kieken. Storey will return to territorial court May 28 to enter a plea.

RCMP continue to look for Pierre Eskalon, 18, Stanley Paul Pestano, 21, and Norman Alexander Hache, 21. Each faces two counts of trafficking cocaine.