One man in custody after police negotiate with man allegedly carrying loaded weapon in northwestern Athabasca County
An overnight manhunt in northwestern Athabasca County ended with local police negotiating for the surrender of an allegedly armed suspect Feb. 13.
Athabasca RCMP Cpl. Dale Bereza said that on the night of Feb. 12, police had been trying to apprehend a suspect who was breaking into properties between Township Road 690 and Range Roads 211 and 213.
Bereza said the suspect fled from a member in a side-by-side, and he possibly had a firearm at that time.
“We had our dog team out. We had our response team out as well, but he wasn’t located at that time,” he said. “When daybreak came again, what happened is we ended up getting a call of a suspicious person in a field at that same location around Range Road 211 and (Township Road) 690, still having the weapon that matched the description that we were looking for the day before.”
Bereza said five officers from the Athabasca RCMP were then able to contain and surround the area around 3 p.m.
“It could have went badly, but it didn’t,” he said. “I have to give our credit to our members on scene. They did a fabulous job dealing and talking to him. I think by doing the open communication and keeping him engaged by talking, I think he got to realize that it was a good idea just to give up.”
He said he arrived on scene around 5 p.m., about five or six minutes before the man surrendered.
“It’s definitely a tense situation, because we don’t know what that person’s thinking,” he said. “At that time, we’re just basically going, we want this to be resolved peacefully … As I’m going up there, that’s all I’m hoping for, that he’s just going to finally just drop the weapon and give up. That’s what he did.”
He also said local residents had been informed when the suspect was found in the area, and they were informed not to answer their doors and to keep everything locked up.
“There was no threat at any given time to the public that we’re aware of at this time,” he said.
Bereza also noted that the Athabasca RCMP got backup from their neighbours. On Feb. 12, the Lac La Biche RCMP detachment sent in their sleds and snowmobiles to help with the search, and Feb. 13, the Westlock and Boyle detachments had been called in and were on route to the scene before the man surrendered.
“Thanks to the community,” he added. “They’re the ones who spotted him, and they’re the ones that called him in right away.”
Bereza also said more information would be available after charges are laid.
