On July 19, 2024, Hay River RCMP received a report of suspicious activity near a travel trailer unlawfully parked on Town property. RCMP Officers attended along with a Hay River bylaw officer. Occupants of the trailer were reportedly trying to keep others away from the area.
During the interaction, firearms were observed and 2 people were arrested. The area was secured while a search warrant for the trailer was applied for and subsequently granted.
Officers executed the search warrant and located 4 stolen firearms, over $17,000 in cash suspected to be proceeds of crime and other weapons.
As a result of the investigation, 22-year-old Rukundo Fota of Alberta and 36 year-old Brian Swallow of Hay River have been charged with:
- Mischief Under $5000, contrary to section 430(4) of the Criminal Code
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime, contrary to section 354(1)(a) of the Criminal Code (2 counts)
- Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm, contrary to section 91(3) of the Criminal Code
- Possession of a Weapon Obtained by Crime, contrary to section 96(2) of the Criminal Code
- Unsafe Storage of Firearms, contrary to section 86(2) of the Criminal Code
- Possession of a Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose, contrary to section 88(2) of the Criminal Code
Fota was held to appear before a Justice of the Peace and subsequently released on a release order to appear in court August 26 . Swallow was released on an undertaking to appear in court September 26, 2024.