A man wanted on warrants in northern B.C. is behind bars in Trail awaiting charges stemming from suspected crimes in the West Kootenay.
Related story here: Trail police on lookout for wanted man
Related story here: Man eludes arrest near Nelson
Ishmani Baker, 21, had thrice eluded capture before he was apprehended Friday morning by the Trail RCMP, in a coordinated takedown that included a police dog.
“He was remanded into custody and he’s in our cell block right now,” Sgt. Wicentowich told the Trail Times Monday.
Baker was captured outside of Trail on a rural Columbia Gardens property shortly after 10:30 a.m. Dec. 7. On scene were police officers from the Trail and Greater District RCMP Detachment, Kootenay Boundary Regional GIS, Trail and Castlegar Crime Reduction Unit, West Kootenay Traffic Services, Kootenay Containment Team, and Cranbrook Police Dog Services.
“He was staying on the property and, right now, the only person under investigation for a number of offences that occurred in the West Kootenay in this scenario, is Ishmani Baker,” Wicentowich said. “No one else, at this time, is facing any charges. But as the investigation progresses, maybe that could come to light.”
Property stolen from the Kaslo area was recovered after Baker’s capture. Sgt. Wicentowich said a number of hand and power tools as well as a compressor were being returned to the owner.
“He had been throughout the area, in Trail, Castlegar, Nelson, Kaslo, and perhaps other areas,” he explained. “Right now we are coordinating all our investigations to see what we can lay charges on. So there are a number of charges coming forward on Mr. Baker in addition to the ones he’s facing out of Fort St. John.”
Baker managed to evade police on three occasions, the most recent being an attempt to arrest him in Beasley the previous weekend.
His 10 unendorsed warrants in Fort St. John include: assault with a weapon; uttering threats; mischief under $5,000; enter dwelling with intent to commit; failing to comply with probation; and breach of undertaking.
Wicentowich says there’s no clear answer whether Baker will face his charges in this jurisdiction before a transfer up north.
“What I can tell you is we are going to send him to court,” he said. ‘I am not sure which day he is going, but then his defence, judge and crown will figure out what’s going to happen. If he gets remanded into custody (after court) he will likely go to a provincial institution awaiting his trial … that’s all to be determined this week.”
newsroom@trailtimes.ca
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