RCMP say Manitoba homicide suspect arrested in Ontario after firing at police

Ontario police say they were met with gunfire when they attempted to apprehend a man suspected in a homicide in Manitoba.

Ontario Provincial Police say in a video on Twitter that officers received information that Eric Wildman could be in the area.

Police say officers attempted to get into a residence in Prince Edward County, just outside Belleville, Ont., and were fired at when they tried to enter.

They say officers moved into positions around the residence and crisis negotiators were eventually able to get the two men inside to surrender.

One of the men was identified as Wildman.

BACKGROUND: Manitoba RCMP release details on sightings of homicide suspect

“These are the inherent dangers that police officers face on a daily basis, luckily on the OPP, we have teams that are trained and we were fortunate enough to have these teams present,” explained Aaron Miller, Community Safety Officer.

“Even with our best efforts and the direct assistance of the Winnipeg Police service, and the Ontario Provincial Police, Police simply do not have the numbers to servile all of Manitoba’s vast areas,” said Michael Koppang, Manitoba RCMP.

Questions were asked by reporters why the provincial emergency alert system wasn’t used during the Manhunt, Koppang says at no time in the investigation did RCMP have knowledge of a specific location and wanted to avoid raising fears unnecessarily.

“We are fully prepared to active this system in appropriate situations but these situations simply did not present themselves during this investigation.”

Police had been searching for Wildman for the past 11 days, following a Canada wide warrant for his arrest, in connection with the suspected homicide of 40 year old Clifford joseph of Manitoba.

Joseph has been missing since June 7, when he was last seen leaving his home in St. Clements, north of Winnipeg.

RCMP later found his truck abandoned in a rural area and investigators have said there is evidence he was the victim of a homicide.

Mounties had warned that Wildman was armed and dangerous and could have clothing and gear resembling that used by police.

Officers found police tactical equipment, patches and other items resembling officer uniforms when they searched Wildman’s vehicle on Sunday.

Koppang added the publics help was essential in ending this manhunt. It was credible sightings around Winnipeg and then Whiteshell, followed by numerous tips in Ontario, that led to Wildman’s arrest.

RCMP says it’s still unclear how or where Wildman got past them to slip out of Manitoba and travel over 1,000 Km into Ontario.

“We set up road blocks, we did everything that you would expect us to do and we have no explanation at this point how he got through that essentially,” explained Koppang.

Ontario Provincial Police say Wildman is being transported back to Manitoba.

-With files from Mark Neufeld, CityNews