Man charged with attempted murder in shooting of RCMP officer

A 27-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder in connection with the shooting of an RCMP officer near Turtleford last month.

Justin Davis Yakimchuk was arrested by Regina Police Service officers Tuesday at the Saskatchewan Penitentiary in Prince Albert, where he has been in custody since the Sept. 24 incident.

Yakimchuk was to appear in Prince Albert Provincial Court on Wednesday to face a litany of charges.

In addition to attempted murder, he also was charged with three counts of possession of a firearm or ammunition contrary to a prohibition order, two counts each of possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm with ammunition along with possession of a scheduled substance for the purpose of trafficking, and one count each of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, flight from a peace officer, obstructing a peace officer, unauthorized possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle and possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000.

In a media release, the Regina police — who were asked to investigate the shooting at the request of the Saskatchewan RCMP — said Yakimchuk was unlawfully at large after breaching his statutory release at the time of the alleged incident.

According to the police, the situation began when residents reported a vehicle being driven dangerously in the areas of Loon Lake, Meadow Lake, Glaslyn, St. Walberg and Mervin.

The RCMP found the vehicle near Mervin, where it was disabled. As two officers approached the vehicle, one of them was shot. He reportedly is recovering from his wounds.

Yakimchuk also suffered non-life-threatening injuries during the incident.

Regina police are continuing to investigate, along with an independent observer appointed by the Saskatchewan Ministry of Justice.