The Virden RCMP made an arrest after a short chase and a standoff on Sioux Valley Dakota Nation on New Year's Eve.
Officers responded to a call of a male with a knife who was in a home threatening residents in the community. When police arrived, the suspect had fled, but residents were able to identify him.
Police located the suspect's vehicle nearby, but he refused to stop when they tried to pull him over. After a short chase, the suspect stopped his vehicle and ran into a nearby residence where he barricaded himself inside.
Officers from the Blue Hills RCMP, Police Dog Services, and the Emergency Response Team (ERT) attended the scene to assist. A 13-year-old female and a 20-year-old male who were in the residence had to be extracted by police through a window.
Just after midnight on January 1, 2023, ERT officers were able to gain entry into the residence and place the suspect under arrest. 42-year-old Bruce Branth of Sioux Valley Dakota Nation has been remanded into custody and charged with:
- Failing to comply with a release order x6
- Assault with a weapon
- Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose
- Resist/Obstruct a Peace Officer
