A second suspect in a violent home invasion and hostage taking in Teetł’it Zheh (Fort McPherson), has been arrested after a week-long hunt by RCMP with help from members of the public.
Constable Josh Seaward is the NWT RCMP’s media relations officer.
“A member of the public reported seeing him outside in the early hours of the morning,” he told CKLB today.
“Officers attended and conducted a search. He was subsequently located inside a nearby residence shortly after.
“Fort McPherson RCMP would like to sincerely thank our media partners and members of the public who assisted with this matter.”
In the NWT Assembly earlier this week, Mackenzie Delta MLA George Nerysoo presented the incident as another example of the violent drug trade in his riding.
Nerysoo told the Assembly that two individuals forced themselves into a public housing unit occupied by two adults and their children and held the adults hostage at knifepoint.
He pleaded with Premier and Justice Minister RJ Simpson to hold a public meeting to develop ideas on how best to rid the region of the illicit drug peddlers.
Premier RJ Simpson in Assembly this week (Image courtesy of Assembly livestream)
Simpson said one of the best ways the public can help is to be willing to work with their local Mounties, either through tips or testimony.
“One of the things we need is for people to testify. I know it’s tough in small communities, people’s families are threatened, but ultimately that’s one of the biggest issues we have, is that it’s hard to get people to testify against drug dealers,” he said in the Assembly.
“If there are people who are negatively impacting community, if there are drug dealers that are actively working to get people addicted, kidnapping people, torturing people, getting into human trafficking, (We need to start sentencing) them appropriately, starting right when the application for bail is made.”
On October 16th police received a report of a home invasion and began a search for two suspects, cautioning the public not to approach not to approach them.
Twenty-nine-year-old Nathan Francis of Fort McPherson was soon taken into custody and charged with: Two counts breaking, entering and committing an offence; two counts of robbery; and one count each of mischief under $5,000; and failure to comply with bail conditions.
Francis was released on bail for his latest charges on October 8th by a Justice of the Peace.
Abraham Stewart, also of Fort McPherson was charged before he was placed in custody. He faces the same burglary and robbery charge as Francis, but also assault with a weapon; two counts of forcible confinement; and one count of flight from a peace officer.
Stewart will appear before a Justice of the Peace later today.
As with all charged people, these suspects are to be considered innocent until evidence against them can be tested in court.
Fort McPherson photo courtesy of MACA
