OPP investigating attempted murder of officers during arrest of Manitoba man near Belleville, Ont.
An R.M. of St. Clements man arrested Friday in Ontario on a Canada-wide warrant is expected in a Manitoba court later this week on firearms-related charges.
Eric Wildman, 34, was wanted by RCMP in connection with the investigation into the homicide of his neighbour Clifford Joseph.
While he has not been charged in that case, police in Ontario announced they are investigating the attempted murder of officers during Wildman’s arrest.
It was on Massassauga Road in picturesque Prince Edward County in Ontario, where the search for Wildman ended with shots fired from inside a home after tips from the public led officers to the residence.
A resident of the area, located just outside Belleville, who spoke to CTV News but asked not to be identified said they were awoken by police at their door around 3 a.m. Friday and advised to turn off their lights and take cover in their basement.
Police said when they executed a warrant to enter the home where Wildman was believed to be located, a standoff ensued.
“Upon entry to the residence officers were met with gunfire from within the residence,” Det. Insp Brad Collins of the OPP’s criminal investigation branch said in a video posted to Twitter.
The OPP said just after 6 a.m., two men exited the home. One man was questioned and released. Wildman was taken into custody and transported back to Manitoba.
The investigation into the shots fired from the home is being handled by the OPP.
“The OPP criminal investigation branch under the direction of the major case manager, myself, are now investigating the attempted murder on OPP officers,” Collins said.
The RCMP said the man who exited the home with Wildman in Ontario has been identified but his name hasn’t been released and neither has his exact relationship with Wildman.
Investigators previously described the person as “an associate” of Wildman’s and said the indication is Wildman was specifically headed to the home where he was taken into custody.
Wildman has been charged in Manitoba with unsafe storage of a firearm and possession of a prohibited device after police found guns and police-related clothing and equipment in his vehicle in Winnipeg.
He has also been charged with two counts of failing to report the destruction of a prohibited firearm in relation to a search of his property south of Stead, Man.
The charges against Wildman were briefly addressed in Manitoba provincial court Monday. The matter has been adjourned until Wednesday morning.
Wildman had been the focus of a weeklong search in Manitoba. The vehicle he was believed to be driving was last spotted heading towards the Whiteshell and the Manitoba/Ontario border Wednesday night before his arrest 2,000 kilometres away early Friday.
The RCMP said he remains a suspect in the disappearance of Joseph but Joseph is still missing and Wildman hasn’t been charged in the case.
“I can tell you we’re still investigating it,” Supt. Michael Koppang, officer in charge of Manitoba Major Crime Services, said on Friday. “We’re investigating it like a homicide. I’m not going to be able to get into any of the specific information.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
'Tactical evacuations' underway near Fort Nelson, B.C., as wildfires encroach
The BC Wildfire Service says 'tactical evacuations' began Friday near Fort Nelson, B.C., due to an out-of-control wildfire that has grown rapidly since it was discovered earlier in the afternoon.
Snowbirds in Vancouver for puck-drop flyby as Canucks face Oilers
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be performing a flyover across downtown Vancouver at the start of tonight's Stanley Cup playoff game between the Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.