Manitoba homicide suspect arrested at home of family friend, OPP says
A court date for a Manitoba man who was the focus of an intense search by RCMP last week has been moved to July.
Eric Wildman, 34, has been charged in Manitoba with three firearms offences and possession of a prohibited device without a licence – charges stemming from searches earlier this month of a vehicle he owned and his property south of Stead, Man, in the R.M. of St. Clements.
Wildman, who was arrested by Ontario Provincial Police last week at a home in Prince Edward County just outside Belleville, was wanted in Manitoba last week in connection with the mysterious disappearance of his neighbour, 40-year-old Clifford Joseph. Joseph’s body hasn’t been found but RCMP investigators believe he’s the victim of a homicide.
During the search, RCMP warned the public Wildman may be armed and dangerous and released photos of police-related clothing and equipment recovered from his vehicle along with firearms.
Wildman was scheduled to appear in Manitoba provincial court Wednesday on the firearms charges but the case has been adjourned until July 12.
He has not been charged in connection with Joseph’s disappearance but police have said he remains a suspect in the case.
Police in Ontario have obtained a Canada-wide warrant for Wildman’s arrest on one count of attempted murder with a firearm of OPP officers, one count of attempted murder with a firearm of an unknown person, and one count of possession of a restricted firearm without a licence stemming from his arrest just outside of Belleville on June 18.
“Both counts of attempted murder related to one set of actions on the part of the accused, Mr. Wildman,” said Det. Insp. Brad Collins, case manager with the OPP’s criminal investigation branch. “There was no other individual involved in this takedown. It was basically the police, Mr. Wildman, and the homeowner present at the location of his arrest on Massassauga Road in Prince Edward County.”
The OPP said six shots were fired when they executed a search warrant at the home after learning Wildman may be inside. Police said officers did not return fire.
With the help of crisis negotiators, Wildman and the homeowner eventually exited the home. Police said the homeowner was questioned and released and hasn’t been charged. Collins confirmed to CTV News Winnipeg the homeowner was a friend of Wildman’s late father.
“There’s no culpability that we can see on his part,” said Collins. “The accused, it seems, knew the homeowner from a prior family relationship and it would seem he had sought out the homeowner to obtain a discreet location, perhaps to avoid detection.”
Officers said they recovered a Glock 9 mm semi-automatic pistol and ballistic evidence from the scene. Police also said they recovered ammunition from the vehicle Wildman had been driving and seized a Chevy Equinox, the same kind of vehicle Wildman was believed to be driving in Manitoba.
Wildman has been transported back to Manitoba where he remains in custody.
The OPP said once the warrant is executed on the attempted murder offences, police and courts in both Ontario and Manitoba will work together to figure out how to manage the charges in each province.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Train derailed in Sarnia after colliding with a truck
Police are investigating after a transport truck collided with a train in Sarnia.
Fewer medical students going into family medicine contributing to doctor shortage
As some family doctors are retiring and others are moving away from family medicine, there are fewer medical students to take their place.
'It's discriminatory': Individuals refused entry to Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
Individuals being barred from entering Ontario’s legislature while wearing a keffiyeh say the garment is part of their cultural identity— and the only ones making it political are the politicians banning it.
Bodies found by U.S. authorities searching for missing B.C. kayakers
United States authorities who have been searching for a pair of missing kayakers from British Columbia since the weekend have recovered two bodies in the nearby San Juan Islands of Washington state.