KEHEWIN – In the early morning hours of Jan. 26, Bonnyville RCMP responded to a report of an attempted carjacking with firearms in Kehewin First Nations.
According to RCMP, a vehicle with two occupants stopped and offered a male pedestrian a ride. The pedestrian accepted and asked to be dropped off at a nearby residence.
Upon arriving at the residence, two men allegedly approached the car with firearms and demanded the vehicle's occupants get out of the vehicle.
“The pedestrian that was picked up also produced a firearm. When the victims refused, a suspect fired a shot into the air at which point the victims got out of the car,” reads a statement released by Bonnyville RCMP.
After the reportedly violent interaction, the suspects fled the scene in a pickup truck but did not take the victim's vehicle, say police.
The pickup truck has since been recovered, but RCMP continue to search for two suspects.
Following the investigation into the Wednesday morning incident, Bonnyville RCMP have arrested a youth whose identity cannot be released under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
Arrest warrants have also been obtained for two men suspected of being involved in the attempted carjacking.
Laine Solway-Martial, 23, and Joshua Lawrence Desjarlais, 32, both of Elizabeth Métis Settlement are facing several charges.
RCMP have charged both men with assault, careless use of a firearm, pointing a firearm, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, using a firearm in commission of an offence, unauthorized possession of a firearm, and uttering threats.
Solway-Martial faces further charges of robbery with a restricted or prohibited firearm and one additional criminal charge that was not identified by police.
Desjarlais is further charged with robbery with a firearm, discharging a firearm with intent (x2) and one additional criminal charge that was not identified.
Laine Solway-Martial is 6ft. tall and weighs approximately 160 lbs. He is described as having brown hair, brown eyes and a medium skin tone.
Solway-Martial is also noted to have a prominent tattoo of a cross on his forehead.
Joshua Desjarlais is 6ft. 1in. tall and weighs approximately 238 lbs. He is described as having brown hair, brown eyes and a medium skin tone.
Police caution the public not to approach these individuals, but to contact the Bonnyville RCMP at 780-826-3358, 911, or your local police.
Anyone with any information in relation to Solway’s and Desjarlais’ whereabouts is asked to contact RCMP.
If you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477(TIPS), online at www.P3Tips.com or by using the "P3 Tips" app
