Sask. RCMP charge 29-year-old in Edmonton carjacking

Saskatchewan RCMP have charged a 29-year-old man believed to be at the centre of two carjackings and a shooting in Edmonton Wednesday night.

As of Friday morning, police began winding down a search of the Maidstone area, because they are now unsure if there was a second suspect involved in the attacks at all.

Jeremy Kelly Buffin was arrested by RCMP early Thursday morning when the car he was driving got stuck in a slough near Maidstone. Police said the car had been stolen from a house between Llodyminster and Maidstone.

The police investigation began in Edmonton Wednesday night after a carjacking and shooting at a hotel that sent one man to hospital. Shortly after, police responded to another carjacking involving a shotgun at a gas station in the nearby suburb of Sherwood Park.

RCMP found both stolen vehicles including one that had been set on fire.

The manhunt ramped up on Thursday morning as RCMP officers started searching the Maidstone area. Members from the Maidstone, Battlefords, Unity, Onion Lake, Turtleford, Cutknife and Lloydminster detachments were called in to help find a second suspect considered armed and dangerous and believed to be on foot.

The search lasted into Thursday evening and involved police dog services, the emergency response team and drones as officers searched rural properties on the ground.

The public was warned to stay out of the way and report any suspicious activity because the suspect was believed to be armed and dangerous.

Officers were still patrolling the area on Friday, but admit it is unclear at this point if there is a second suspect.

“We are remaining vigilant and are asking the public to do the same: do not approach suspicious vehicles or persons and report any suspicious activity, vehicles or persons in the Maidstone area to police,” RCMP explained in a news release on Thursday.

Buffin is facing charges for robbery with a weapon, pointing a firearm, possession of stolen property, and flight from police.

He appeared in North Battleford Provincial Court on Thursday morning.