Sister of Manitoba man feared dead in homicide relieved after Eric Wildman's arrest near Belleville, Ont.
The arrest of a Manitoba fugitive is bringing relief to the sister of a suspected homicide victim.
Clifford Joseph, 40, disappeared after leaving his home in the R.M. of St. Clements on June 7 and hasn’t been seen since.
“I felt relieved because maybe now we can get some answers,” Clifford’s sister Felicia Joseph told CTV News.
On Friday morning, Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) arrested a suspect in Clifford’s disappearance east of Toronto with shots fired at officers from inside a home near Belleville, Ont.
Police made contact with two men inside the home and both eventually surrendered. The OPP and RCMP identified one of the men as 34-year-old Eric Wildman, who’s been the focus of an intense weeklong search in southeast Manitoba.
The standoff ended with no injuries and both men were taken into custody.
Police outside of a home near Belleville, Ont. where Eric Wildman was arrested by Ontario Provincial Police. (Source: Marisa Dragani)Police outside of a home near Belleville, Ont. on June 18, 2021, where Eric Wildman was arrested by Ontario Provincial Police. (Source: Marisa Dragani)
“When we heard that the OPP had this residence surrounded, our entire team was holding their breath,” said RCMP Supt. Michael Koppang, the officer in charge of Manitoba Major Crime Services.
Wanted in connection with Clifford’s disappearance, police presumed Wildman was armed and dangerous and warned the public he shouldn’t be approached.
Earlier this week, the RCMP also found firearms and replica police clothing and equipment in his vehicle, escalating public safety concerns.
Items resembling police clothing seized by RCMP during an investigation into the homicide of Clifford Joseph (Image source: Manitoba RCMP)Items resembling police clothing seized by RCMP from Eric Wildman's vehicle on June 13, 2021, during an investigation into the homicide of Clifford Joseph (Source: Manitoba RCMP)
It’s a search that as recently as Thursday focused on Whiteshell Provincial Park near the Manitoba/Ontario border but concluded more than 2,000 kilometres away.
“It was a heck of a long drive in a fairly short period of time,” Koppang said.
Koppang said police in Ontario were responding to three tips they received Thursday night about a vehicle matching the one Wildman was believed to be driving.
Outside the Prince Edward County home where he was arrested on Friday, crews could be seen loading a Chevy Equinox onto a flatbed truck — the kind of vehicle police said Wildman rented at the airport in Winnipeg last Friday.
The vehicle was last seen just west of Whiteshell Provincial Park Wednesday at 7 p.m., prompting police to flood the area and the border in hopes of catching him.
“We set up roadblocks, we did everything that you’d expect us to do and we have no explanation at this point how he got through that, essentially,” said Koppang.
Wildman and Clifford lived next to each on rural properties in the R.M. of St. Clements, but police haven’t elaborated on any relationship between the two men beyond being neighbours.
Felicia said her brother had only lived in the area a couple months. She said he has a daughter and describes him as a genuine person who would help anyone.
Clifford Joseph, 40, disappeared after leaving his home in the R.M. of St. Clements on June 7 and hasn’t been seen since. (Submitted)(Submitted photo)
Clifford’s body hasn’t been located but his truck was found abandoned near Wildman’s property on June 7, the same day he was last seen.
“I won’t believe it until I see some official evidence or a body or something,” said Felicia.
Investigators said Friday the indication now is that Wildman was headed to the home in Belleville, but it’s not clear why.
The identity of the second man arrested has not been released, but the RCMP described him as “an associate” of Wildman’s.
Wildman is being sent back to Manitoba and has already been charged with unsafe storage of a firearm and possession of a prohibited device without a licence.
The RCMP said more charges are expected.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Canucks claw out 5-4 comeback win over Oilers in Game 1
Dakota Joshua had a goal and two assists and the Vancouver Canucks scored three third-period goals to claw out a 5-4 comeback victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series Wednesday.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.