Following an investigation involving collaboration between the Whitehorse, Teslin and Watson Lake RCMP detachments, an RCMP officer from Watson Lake successfully used a tire deflation device, resulting in the arrest of a suspect in a vehicle theft.
On March 3, 2025 at 3:28 pm Whitehorse RCMP received a report of a stolen vehicle. The vehicle was located on the Alaska Highway driving south through Teslin. Traffic stops were initiated by both the Teslin and Watson Lake RCMP however the vehicle failed to stop for police.
A Watson Lake officer set up a tire deflation device at the Alaska and Cassiar Highway Junction in order to stop the vehicle safely. While in the action of deploying the device, the suspect vehicle swerved at the officer who was able to escape from the path of the vehicle. The suspect vehicle continued south and the driver attempted to flee once the vehicle was disabled; he eventually gave up to police commands when hampered by the deep snow. He was taken into custody without further incident.
38-year-old Corey Letendre, a resident of Alberta was charged with the following offences under the Criminal Code of Canada: Theft of a motor vehicle, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, assault on a police officer with a weapon (a motor vehicle) and pursuit involved flight from the police. Mr. Letendre has been remanded and set to attend court in Whitehorse on March 6, 2025.