The man involved in a standoff that lasted hours and involved Lac La Biche RCMP and the Emergency Response Team (ERT) was denied bail.
Honourable Judge Lawrence Nemirsky denied Darren Emil Cadieux release from custody during his appearance in the Bonnyville Provincial Courthouse on Tuesday, Feb. 26.
Cadieux has been charged with five counts of unauthorized possession of a weapon, six counts of discharging a firearm, six counts of careless use/storage of a firearm, possessing a firearm knowing that the serial number on it has been altered, defaced or removed, criminal harassment, using a firearm while committing an indictable offence, intimidation, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, breach of probation, unlawful use of a firearm, assault with a weapon, threats to cause death, and possession of property obtained by crime.
The charges stem from multiple incidents from earlier this year, when RCMP were called to a Lac La Biche County property where Cadieux and his sister reside.
On Jan. 13, police responded to a complaint that a male, who was later identified as Cadieux's sister's boyfriend, had been on their property after being called to help fix a pipe.
According to Crown prosecutor Tyler MacLean, when the complainant arrived to assist his girlfriend, who lives in a trailer about 100-feet away from the suspect's residence, Cadieux came out with a baseball bat, swinging it in his direction.
"Telling him he only had seconds to get out of the yard," described MacLean, adding Cadieux also threatened to shoot the complainant.
At one point, Cadieux went back into the house and grabbed a gun, firing it into the air before heading back inside.
Cadieux's sister refused to call police at the time, but detailed the incident when RCMP were once again called to the property on Jan. 27, 2019.
It was around 4 p.m. when police responded to a report of shots fired at the residence.
RCMP arrived and were informed that Cadieux was inside with a firearm.
According to MacLean, police made contact with Cadieux through a family member's cellphone, and were told via text message RCMP better "keep their heads down."
More shots were fired from the residence.
MacLean explained how regardless of their attempts, Cadieux refused to exit the house, blaring music, and ignoring all communication.
The ERT was called to assist.
They used a robot to deploy gas, hoping Cadieux would leave the residence.
After a lengthy standoff, Cadieux, who was also wanted on separate warrants, was arrested.
"This was a prolonged standoff with ERT. There were firearms involved... This was an all-hands on deck (situation). The detachment took this very seriously, we were lucky no one was hurt," MacLean stated.
The Crown was opposed to Cadieux's release on the secondary and tertiary grounds.
MacLean said incidents like this "strike fear into the heart of the public."
Patrice Taylor, Cadieux's defence lawyer, argued that forensics relating to the weapons involved has yet to come back, adding it's assumed the shots were directed at police at this point.
MacLean clarified that those types of tests can take months to complete.
Taylor said if granted release, the 43-year-old Lac La Biche male would reside in Plamondon with his common-law spouse and eight-year-old son.
According to Taylor he would live under strict conditions, and is aware that if he violates them, his spouse will notify police and he would be arrested.
"It would be an understatement to say that this was potentially a volatile and dangerous situation," Nemirsky expressed.
He wasn't confident that if Cadieux was released from custody, that he would comply with any conditions, considering the suspect has four prior failing to comply charges.
Nemirsky agreed with the Crown that based on the secondary and tertiary grounds, Cadieux would remain in jail until his next court appearance in Lac La Biche on March 4.
