Mounties say a suspect's vehicle flashing blue and red lights was met with a more legitimate set.

In a statement, RCMP Manitoba is sharing how an early Saturday carjacking led to the charing of three people. The people with real badges say they have a man who was pretending to be an officer, and two others, in custody.

After midnight, an SUV with two women inside were travelling on Highway 59, south of Ocean Drive, in the R.M of St. Clements. As they were driving, an SUV with red and blue flashing lights stopped them. When the man arrived at the window, he asked for their licence and registration. Seeing he was not in a uniform, the women questioned him. 

The man then brandished a firearm, making the women leave their vehicle and taking their phones.

Officers from the Selkirk detachment immediately responded at 12:40 a.m., finding the stolen SUV on the same highway, driving south for roughly 35 kilometres.

RCMP says this "area was contained, and at the time, there was no immediate threat to public safety."

When noticing the real officers, the driver in the stolen SUV tried to ram the officer's vehicle. Using a spike, the vehicle was stopped and inside, a 40-year-old man. 

The suspect was taken to the detachment and while in custody, he assaulted an officer and a guard. He is now charged with: 

  • Robbery with Firearm
  • Assault Police Officer
  • Dangerous Operation of Motor Vehicle
  • Possess Stolen Property Over $5000
  • Assault with Weapon, Flight from Police Officer
  • Personating a Police Officer
  • Disguise with Intent to Commit, Possession of Firearm while Prohibited x3

Now that the suspect was in custody, officers began looking for his vehicle.

Hours later, at 4:50, police found the suspect's SUV in Selkirk, travelling north on Main Street. Inside the vehicle were a 38-year-old man and a 28-year-old female passenger. When the man was being searched, they found a hidden knife on the man.

"A search of the vehicle found drugs, illegal cigarettes, and several weapons, including an airsoft gun that looked like a handgun and a set of red and blue lights," RCMP says.

Both the man and woman are being charged with:

  • Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking Cocaine
  • Possession of Weapon for Dangerous Purpose
  • Unauthorized Possession of a Prohibited Weapon

Additionally, the 38-year-old is being charged with two counts of Possession of Weapons Contrary to Order, and more are being considered.

All three are in custody.