PSD Jago joined the High Prairie RCMP in the summer of 2020 with his handler, Cpl. Scott Macleod (Photo: RCMP)

By EverythingGP staff - Grande Prairie

Police K9 killed during ongoing incident northwest of High Prairie

Jun 18, 2021 | 4:02 PM

GRANDE PRAIRIE, AB. — Alberta RCMP say a police service dog has been killed in the line of duty in an ongoing police operation near Winagami Lake Provincial Park, northwest of High Prairie, as officers continue searching for a man who is considered armed and dangerous.

High Prairie Mayor Brian Panasiuk confirmed to EverythingGP that PSD Jago died Thursday (June 17) as police searched for suspect, Lionel Ernest Grey of High Prairie.

The operation began around 11 a.m. Thursday, when High Prairie RCMP spotted a suspect vehicle turn into the park from Highway 679.

That came after McLennan RCMP attempted to conduct a traffic stop at around 10:30 a.m. Thursday, for a suspect wanted on outstanding warrants, for what Mounties call “crimes against persons.”

Police found Grey’s vehicle abandoned in the park after it got stuck in the mud. High Prairie RCMP members and PSD Jago then attempted to track down Grey after he fled on foot into a wooded area.

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Police say no additional officers have been physically injured in this incident.

RCMP confirmed the operation is “very much ongoing” and the public is asked to avoid the area. They say they have deployed “a number of resources with various skill sets” to locate Grey.

“The RCMP Emergency Response Team, Police Dog Services Units and Air Services have an area contained where they believe the suspect to be hiding,” RCMP say, in a release.

“The safety of the general public is our priority. We are asking all residents in the High Prairie area to stay away from police activity, to remain vigilant and to report anything suspicious to police.”

Grey is described as 6’2″, weighing 190 lbs with black hair and a dark complexion. He is believed to be wearing a black coat and grey sweater.

Mayor Panasiuk says the flags at High Prairie Town Hall have been lowered to half-mast in honour of PSD Jago.

“Just like we would for any other member of the RCMP, that died in the line of duty, we lowered the flags.”

PSD Jago and his handler, Cpl. Scott MacLeod, came to the detachment in High Prairie last summer after much lobbying by council and the community as a whole to get a police dog for the area.

“He will be greatly missed,” said Panasiuk.

“The dog was a great success and helped in a lot of cases in our region.”