Three women held against their will in Moose Lake

Two women have been charged with forcible confinement and assault after an incident in Moose Lake.

A 29-year-old woman called RCMP at 8:10 a.m. Saturday and said she had been held against her will at a nearby home. Two other women, ages 27 and 24, were also detained, searched and assaulted before all three were allowed to leave, the woman said.

Officers were told the home’s occupants accused the women of stealing money.

The victims noticed machetes, bear spray and a sawed-off shotgun inside the home, RCMP said in a news release Tuesday.

A search warrant had already been drafted for the home because of an unrelated matter. Mounties raided the residence and seized weapons, cash, ammunition and drug-related paraphernalia, the release said.

Police arrested nine adults and released five of them without being charged. Two women, ages 31 and 28, are charged in the incident.

A 33-year-old man was arrested on several outstanding warrants and also charged with resisting arrest. The three accused were remanded into custody.

A 40-year-old man faces a charge of possession of property obtained by crime and was  released on an undertaking.