A man arrested in a dramatic takedown by an RCMP tactical unit flown in two CH-146 Griffon helicopters to an isolated cabin to rescue a girl, is headed to trial.
Aaron Gardiner, 42, who allegedly held a girl against her will at a remote northern Saskatchewan cabin will stand trial in Battleford Court of Queen’s Bench.
Defence lawyer Brian Pfefferle told the Île-à-la-Crosse Circuit Court on May 26 that his client, Aaron Gardiner, 42, has agreed to go straight to trial. Saskatoon Crown Prosecutor Evan Thompson went by direct indictment against Gardiner.
“We consent to committal on all matters where a preliminary was eligible to speed the process along so Mr. Gardiner can have his day in court,” said Pfefferle.
Gardiner wants to be tried by judge alone without a jury. He had previously elected to be tried by judge and jury on some of the charges but re-elected judge alone on all charges.
Gardiner has been in custody since he was arrested last year. Île-à-la-Crosse RCMP say they received a call shortly after 6 p.m. on April 23, 2020, that a girl was being held against her will for four days at a remote cabin across from Île-à-la-Crosse Lake, about 10 kilometres from the village of Île-à-la-Crosse.
Police were told the man had temporarily left the cabin so Île-à-la-Crosse RCMP made several patrols in the village of Île-à-la-Crosse trying to locate him. RCMP officers also began to strategize the safest way to get across the lake to the secluded cabin.
Île-à-la-Crosse RCMP determined the only way to access the cabin was by air because Île-à-la-Crosse Lake was covered in water and slush. They called in the Canadian Armed Forces and the Saskatchewan Emergency Response Team (ERT) to assist. Hours later two Canadian Armed Forces CH-146 Griffon helicopters flew the ERT tactical RCMP unit across the lake and landed beside the cabin. Police rescued the girl. She had minor bruising and was flown back to her family in Île-à-la-Crosse.
Gardiner allegedly tried to flee from the cabin and resisted arrest. The RCMP deployed a Taser and Gardiner was treated in Île-à-la-Crosse for minor injuries.
Police seized firearms and drugs from the cabin.
Gardiner was charged with unlawful confinement, assault, overcoming resistance, uttering threats, resisting arrest, possessing a firearm for a dangerous purpose, use of a firearm in commission of an indictable offence, proceeds of crime, and possession for the purpose of trafficking.
Three months after his arrest, police added more charges after more alleged victims came forward.
There have been numerous delays in Gardiner’s case because he has gone through about five lawyers, with some quitting or being fired.
