Charges laid against Manitoba man at centre of public safety alert – Winnipeg
A Manitoba man on the centre of a police manhunt that led RCMP to ship out alerts warning of a direct risk to the general public final week has formally been charged.
Wesley Manfred Wadien, 38, was arrested within the RM of Rockwood Oct. 20 after main police on day-long chase by Manitoba’s Interlake.
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Manitoba RCMP arrest man believed armed, dangerous, and an immediate threat to the public
His arrest at 8 p.m. that night time got here after police issued a media launch that afternoon, warning that Wadien was thought of armed and harmful earlier than later sending out two emergency alerts by mobile telephones and broadcasts to say the suspect was thought of a direct risk to the general public.
Police mentioned the alerts had been regionalized and solely despatched to areas of the province the place they thought Wadien might be. They mentioned the warning utilized to the Selkirk, Interlake and Winnipeg areas.
At a press convention held lower than half-hour earlier than the arrest, RCMP Supt. Rob Lasson suggested anybody residing in these areas to remain indoors whereas officers looked for the suspect, then regarded as on foot someplace within the Interlake.
Police launched extra details about what led as much as Wadien’s arrest Tuesday.
They are saying officers had been looking for Wadien in reference to an incident the day gone by (Oct. 19) the place they allege Wadien uttered threats and pointed a firearm in Selkirk.
He had additionally been additionally needed on a number of different warrants, police say.
Wadien was noticed in a automobile in Selkirk round midday Oct. 20, police say, however when officers tried to tug him over he sped away, heading north into the Interlake.
RCMP from Gimli and Stonewall then joined the search, which included assist from the Winnipeg police helicopter.
Roughly four-and-a-half hours later, police acquired a report a few suspect matching Wadien’s description driving off with out paying for gas at a gasoline station within the Riverton space. Officers had been capable of monitor their suspect down once more, this time within the Gimli space, the place they are saying he continued to drive at excessive charges of pace.
It’s at the moment police say they determined to ship out the alerts warning about Wadien.
“Threat assessments had been being accomplished repeatedly because the search progressed, and given the probability that he was armed, alongside along with his escalating and very harmful actions on the roadways to keep away from arrest, police decided that Wadien was an imminent risk to public security,” RCMP mentioned in Tuesday’s launch.
Police say officers finally discovered Wadien’s automobile in a ditch after it was seen dashing by the RM of Rockwood.
A witness pointed police to a close-by wooded space the place Wadien was tracked down and arrested with out incident.
Wadien is dealing with various prices together with two counts of possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, two counts of possession of property obtained by crime beneath $5,000, working a conveyance in a harmful method, level a firearm with out lawful excuse, two counts of uttering threats, and two counts of possession of a firearm whereas prohibited.
Wadien stays in custody.
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