High drama arrest in gun thefts
At least one suspect taken at gunpoint; two men charged with stealing firearms from Canadian Tire
John McFadden
Northern News Services
Friday, June 12, 2015
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Two suspects have been arrested, at least one of them at gunpoint, in connection with the May 25 theft of two firearms from the Canadian Tire store.
RCMP arrest a suspect at gunpoint Tuesday night on Taylor Road near Forrest Drive. The arrest came after police stopped an SUV on the street. - submitted to Yellowknifer |
RCMP stated yesterday that officers located the suspects at two separate locations on Tuesday evening, according to a news release. One suspect was arrested in an armed takedown in a residential neighbourhood on Taylor Road near Forrest Drive. The second suspect was arrested in the parking lot of a business on Range Lake Road, police stated.
The men are now being identified as Todd Vatcher, 23 and Beau Desire-Tesar, 28, both of Yellowknife. They are each facing charges of unauthorized possession of a firearm, theft under $5,000 and failing to comply with court orders. Both men are in custody and expected to appear in court today.
None of the firearms have been recovered, according to the news release.
Two guns were taken from a locked display case at Canadian Tire in the early evening of May 25. Police reported that two short-barrelled guns, a Rossi Ranch Hand and a Chiappa Survival Series, were stolen. RCMP say they were notified of the theft the next day but didn't tell the public about it until three days later for "investigational reasons."
Police have not said how the display case was opened nor have they said how they think the culprit or culprits were able to get the guns out of the store. It is not clear whether there was any video surveillance footage of the suspects.
It was at least the second firearms theft in the city this year.
Brendan Paul, 18, is charged with breaking and entering to steal a firearm after a burglary at a home in the Range Lake area on March 13. An AR-15 rifle, a Glock pistol and 2,000 rounds of ammunition were stolen, according to police. Paul is also charged with attempted murder for allegedly using the Glock to shoot a man near the Fraser Arms apartments on April 26.
