Whitehorse RCMP provide further information related to a series of occurrences including a stolen vehicle and armed robbery that took place in the greater Whitehorse area on the afternoon of May13,2024. Three individuals were charged, two of the people involved remain in custody and the third was released by the courts on May23.
Tyrell Sidney, Nathan Ouimet, and Kody Smith, all from Whitehorse, were arrested related to offences reported to or observed by police on May13. All three men are facing the following charges:
- Robbery, contrary to section344(1)(b), Criminal Code;
- Two counts, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, contrary to section320.13(1), Criminal Code;
- Wearing a mask with the intent to commit an indictable offence, contrary to section351(2), Criminal Code;
- Other Criminal Code offences.
Whitehorse RCMP frontline officers, along with Yukon RCMP Police Dog Service and Emergency Response Team members located and disabled the stolen vehicle on Hamilton Boulevard. Kody Smith, age28, was located in the driver's seat and arrested. In addition to the collective charges above, Mr. Smith's charges include the following:
- Two counts, attempted robbery, contrary to section344(1)(b), Criminal Code;
- Mischief not exceeding$5000, contrary to section430(4), Criminal Code.
Nathan Ouimet, age29, fled on foot from the disabled vehicle and officers from the Emergency Response Team and Whitehorse RCMP frontline, located him at a nearby home. In addition to the collective charges above, Mr. Ouimet's charges include the following:
- Break and enter to a dwelling house, contrary to section348(1)(a), Criminal Code;
- Two counts, possession of property obtained by crime, contrary to section354(1)(a), Criminal Code;
- Two counts, attempted robbery, contrary to section344(1)(b), Criminal Code;
- Mischief not exceeding$5000, contrary to section430(4), Criminal Code.
The residents of the home were not there at the time, and are unrelated to and uninvolved in the offences. Police appreciate their cooperation through the investigation.
Police had observed Tyrell Sidney, age44, in the stolen vehicle earlier in the day at previous attempts to conduct a traffic stop, and believe that he fled before the vehicle was disabled. He was located and arrested by Whitehorse RCMP frontline officers and Yukon RCMP Police Dog Services in a stolen vehicle near Squatters Road. In addition to the collective charges listed above, Mr. Sidney's charges include the following:
- Two counts, fail to comply with conditions of release order, contrary to section145(5)(a), Criminal Code;
- Operation of a conveyance (vehicle) while prohibited, section320.18(1)(a), Criminal Code.
Police actions that impacted the public, included: temporarily closing roads, canvassing homes in specific neighbourhoods, and sharing a warning to the public through media and social media. The actions were taken with a goal of preventing bystanders from becoming unnecessarily involved in a dangerous situation and to inform the community about a high-risk evolving police operation. Police appreciate the cooperation from the public throughout the investigation as they were attempting to locate and stop the vehicle and its occupants in the safest possible way. Police deployed a spike belt which assisted with disabling the vehicle.
Staff Sergeant Jill McLaren, Acting Officer in Charge of Whitehorse Detachment noted the incidents required significant assistance from the public and teamwork between the many officers involved in order to keep the public and police safe.
"Throughout our attempts to bring this incident to a safe end, communication and coordination were constant between police on the roads, dispatchers answering calls from the public and monitoring police radio, and leadership working out of Yukon RCMP headquarters," says Staff Sergeant McLaren. "Our goal was to prevent any unnecessary injury to people or damage to property while arresting the suspects involved. Part of this included sharing information with the public and the media for awareness of the ongoing incident. We appreciated receiving details from witnesses and bystanders that contributed to our risk assessment and that people avoided, when possible, areas where police activities were occurring." - Staff Sergeant Jill McLaren
Superintendent Lindsay Ellis, Yukon RCMP Criminal Operations Officer agrees.
"All available and appropriate resources were brought to bear to this incident, including Whitehorse Detachment frontline and plainclothes members from units such as Yukon RCMP Major Crime and Whitehorse General Investigation Section; Critical Incident Program team members including Critical Incident Command, the Emergency Response Team, Police Dog Services, and Crisis Negotiator Team. All applied their skills and training, persistence, and their concern for safety to work as a team and resolve this high risk, continuously evolving incident as safely as possible to provide trusted, effective police service to Yukoners." - Superintendent Lindsay Ellis
One of the suspects was assessed at hospital for injuries and released to police. There were no injuries to members of the public or police.
It should be noted that prior to this incident on May13, Mr. Sidney, Mr. Ouimet, and Mr. Smith all had other files before the courts and the charges listed above do not include the previous Criminal Code and Motor Vehicle Act charges from other investigations. All three men have had court appearances during the week of May20,2024. Tyrell Sidney and Nathan Ouimet remain in custody. Kody Smith was released by the courts, with conditions and pending future court appearances.
Related: www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/en/news/2024/whitehorse-rcmp-provide-update-incident-...
