Lawyer seeks to have evidence from RCMP search warrant tossed out of court

A lawyer for a man charged with a series of ATM robberies is seeking to have the evidence thrown out of court.

Defence Harvey Neufeld told Lloydminster Provincial Court on July 26 that he plans to file Charter applications to have the evidence collected in Daniel Dean’s arrest thrown out of court. The Charter applies to the search warrants executed by RCMP.

“The outcome of the application will determine the fate of all the charges,” said Neufeld. “If we are successful at keeping the evidence out the charges will likely go away. If not, there will likely be pleas entered.”

To allow time for the preparation of the applications, Neufeld asked the court for a lengthy adjournment. Federal Crown Prosecutor Vic Findlater agreed to the adjournment.

Defense will have its Charter submissions in to the federal Crown by Oct. 31 and the Crown will respond to the application by Nov. 30. Judge M.E. Baldwin set the Charter application for Jan. 6, 2022.

Dean faces charges in both Saskatchewan and Alberta for a series of eight break and enters between December 2019 and February 2020 in those provinces.

In Saskatchewan he is charged with four counts of break and enter, possession of a stolen firearm, possession of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking and possessing more than four plants. In Alberta he is charged with four counts of break and enter.

According to St. Walburg RCMP vehicles were used to crash into buildings. ATMs and cash registers were taken or damaged during the robberies.

The police investigation was led by the Frenchman Butte Enhanced Policing Unit and assisted by RCMP detachments in Saskatchewan and Alberta. Specialized RCMP units, including the Forensic Identification Section, Division Criminal Analytical Section, General Investigation Section, also assisted in the investigation.

RCMP raided a home in the RM of Britannia on July 22, 2020, where they say they found evidence that linked Dean to the break and enters. They also seized a stolen firearm, 3.75 pounds of cannabis and 203 cannabis plants.

The charges against Dean haven’t been proven in court.

The RM of Britannia is north of Lloydminster. Lloydminster borders the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan.