Night patrols, aerial surveillance leads to vehicle seizures, charges

Source:  Province of Manitoba Media Bulletin

Manitoba Sustainable Development advises that recent night patrols, including aerial surveillance, have identified several suspects involved in dangerous hunting and led to a number of charges.

On Dec. 10, 2018, officers patrolling near Ashern witnessed a vehicle driving down a municipal road, using a spotlight to light up areas just off the road.  Officers watched as the occupants used the spotlight for over a mile, before they moved in and stopped the vehicle.  Two males from Lake Manitoba First Nation face a number of charges including hunting at night with lights, hunting on private land without permission and carrying a loaded firearm in a vehicle.  A 2017 Ford F-150 pickup truck, loaded rifle and spotlight were seized as evidence.

Later that evening, in the Western region, aerial surveillance observed spotlighting activity along PR 366, northeast of Inglis.  Officers on the ground tracked the vehicle to the yard of a rural residence and found two males.  One male from Alberta has been charged with hunting at night with lights and carrying a loaded firearm in a vehicle, and one male from the RM of Riding Mountain West has been charged with hunting at night with lights.  A 2011 Chevrolet 3500 pickup truck, loaded rifle, other hunting equipment and a spotlight were seized as evidence.

Anyone with information about illegal activities is asked to call their local Manitoba Sustainable Development office or the Turn in Poachers (TIP) line at 1-800-782-0076.