FIREARMS ACT FAILED AGAIN

PUBLICATION: The Edmonton Sun
DATE: 2004.08.26
EDITION: Final
SECTION: News
PAGE: 5
BYLINE: PAUL COWAN, EDMONTON SUN

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MAN FACES HUGE LIST OF CHARGES

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City cops and RCMP swooped down on an Edmonton apartment Tuesday night to arrest a man wanted on 18 outstanding warrants – including kidnapping and assault.

Mounties had been hunting a 32-year-old man since a series of violent incidents in the Barrhead area on Aug. 16.

“It appears that the suspect went to the home of a female acquaintance on that date looking for money,” said RCMP spokesman Const. Darren Anderson.

“She was eventually forced into a vehicle and they went to another address. There a resident was assaulted by a man armed with a shotgun who forced his way into the home.”

RCMP later determined that the man with the gun was probably in the Edmonton area.

On Tuesday, RCMP, along with officers from the city police tactical unit, robbery squad officers and patrol cops moved in on a third-floor suite at 12014 82 St. around 8 p.m.

“The occupants of the suite were not co-operative at first and refused to come out,” said Edmonton Police Service spokesman Dean Parthenis.

“One put her head out of the door and saw the tactical guys in the hallway and went back inside. The suspect eventually surrendered to tactical unit officers and was arrested without incident.”

No weapon was found when the suite was searched.

Barrhead investigators have charged George Ladouceur, 32, with break and enter and committing assault causing bodily harm, possession of a firearm while prohibited, using a firearm in the commission of a kidnapping , uttering threats, two counts of carrying a concealed weapon, three counts of pointing a firearm, and two counts of carrying a firearm while committing an indictable offence.

He’s been remanded in custody and is due in court Aug. 30.

Ponoka RCMP, meanwhile, also wanted Ladouceur in connection with a break-in and police chase on Dec. 28.

They have charged him with flight from police, dangerous driving, possession of a weapon dangerous to the public, possession of break and enter tools, break and enter, and possession of stolen property.

And Ladouceur is no stranger to city cops.

In January, he was arrested after a chase involving the police helicopter and charged with dangerous driving, criminal flight from police and driving while suspended.

And in July 2003, he was sentenced to four months in jail for threatening a cabbie with a knife, kicking in windows and smashing a phone at a police station.