Suspect accused of pointing firearm at police

A man accused of shooting a rifle into the air, pointing a firearm at RCMP and using a woman as a human shield faces charges in connection with a New Year’s Eve incident in North Battleford.

Battlefords RCMP received several calls on Jan. 1 at 12:02 a.m. about what were believed to be two males walking on 15th Avenue in North Battleford and firing a rifle, police said in a news release.

At 12:25 a.m., officers in the area responding to an unrelated call spotted two people matching the description from the earlier complaint. More RCMP units were called to the scene, and two people were contained in the back yard of a home in the 1200 block of 111th Street.

When two officers went into the yard, a man pointed a firearm at the officers, hid behind the woman he was with and threatened to shoot, RCMP said.

According to RCMP Sgt. Jason Teniuk, the initial callers reporting two males on 15th Avenue were incorrect. It was dark outside, he said, also noting that the descriptions of the clothing worn by the two people were “spot on.”

The officers sought cover and attempted to talk with the man, who then fled the scene, leaving the woman behind. She was taken safely into custody.

Tracking footprints in the snow, officers located the man at a home on 12th Avenue and heard “yelling and screaming ” inside as they approached. Police entered the home “and saw the homeowner and three other males holding down and beating the male suspect, who was still holding the firearm,” RCMP said.

Police intervened and arrested the man. Officers quickly determined that he had been at the 12th Avenue home earlier in the night but was kicked out “for unruly behaviour.” He returned to the home and forced his way in shortly before officers arrived, police said.

The officers “showed a great deal of courage and restraint in dealing with this very difficult and dangerous situation,” Teniuk said in an email.

A 38-year-old North Battleford man was remanded and faces charges, including assault with a firearm and uttering threats. The investigation is ongoing and more charges are expected, RCMP said.

The role of the woman in the incident and “the actions of the people inside the residence where Davis was arrested” are both being investigated, RCMP said.