By Global Desklast Updated
TIL CreativesTwo men accused of looting during La Ronge鈥檚 wildfire evacuation denied bail as judge slams their actions as 鈥榖razen鈥 and warns of shattered public trust. Evacuees return to burned towns and ransacked homes
A Canadian judge has denied bail to two men accused of looting homes during last month鈥檚 wildfire evacuation in the northern community of La Ronge, calling the alleged crimes 鈥渂razen conduct that shocks the sensibilities of the public.鈥漈he suspects were arrested on June 4, a day after thousands of residents fled La Ronge due to the fast-moving Pisew wildfire. RCMP officers stopped a stolen SUV near Waskesiu Lake, approximately 130 kilometers south of La Ronge, and found a stolen laptop, parcels, and a crowbar inside. The items were traced back to properties in the evacuated town.Judge Steven Schiefner, presiding over the June 19 bail hearing, emphasized the danger that looting poses during emergencies.鈥淭hose people were vulnerable,鈥 Schiefner said. 鈥淚t was brazen, it happened during a time when there was an evacuation order, and most people had complied with that order and, in fact, had been evacuated.鈥漇chiefner said releasing the accused could erode public trust in the emergency system and potentially put lives at risk. 鈥淧eople are willing to leave their homes because they believe that their property is safe from thieves,鈥 he said. 鈥淪hould they doubt that and stay behind, they are at risk and distract emergency workers who must then account for them.鈥滾ive EventsThe court heard that at least two victims were affected, including a homeowner and the owner of the stolen vehicle. The judge said he had also received a letter from La Ronge鈥檚 mayor urging him not to grant bail.鈥淭here are no conditions that I could come up with that are sufficient,鈥 Schiefner said. 鈥淚 simply cannot release you.鈥漁ne victim, Denise Bradfield, was evacuated while the suspects allegedly broke into her home and stole a laptop and packages.鈥淚 was already terrified of losing my home to fire, I didn鈥檛 think I鈥檇 have to worry about looters,鈥 she told local media.More than 10,000 people across northern Saskatchewan were forced to flee their homes due to wildfires in June. The accused are scheduled to return to court later this month.(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)
Read More News onLa Ronge lootingwildfire evacuation lootingSaskatchewan wildfireswildfire victimsJudge Steven SchiefnerCanada wildfireRCMPsteven schiefner
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(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)Read More News onLa Ronge lootingwildfire evacuation lootingSaskatchewan wildfireswildfire victimsJudge Steven SchiefnerCanada wildfireRCMPsteven schiefner(Catch all the Business News, Breaking News, Budget 2025 Events and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.) Subscribe to The Economic Times Prime and read the ET ePaper online….moreless