As a result of coordinated efforts between the Saskatchewan RCMP Warrant Enforcement Team (WEST) and La Ronge RCMP, 24-year-old Austin Bird, who was charged and on statutory release for manslaughter, was arrested on Tuesday, November 29, 2022.
Bird was involved in a homicide in La Ronge, SK, in April 2017. Bird also had a Canada-wide warrant for being unlawfully at large issued by Corrections Services Canada in November 2022.
On November 29, 2022, Saskatchewan RCMP WEST, working in conjunction with the La Ronge RCMP Detachment and the Saskatoon RCMP General Investigation Section (GIS), were able to determine that Bird may be in the La Ronge area.
Saskatchewan RCMP WEST deployed immediately to La Ronge and began an active search for Bird. They conducted proactive patrols, attended areas Bird was known to frequent, and gathered information through neighbourhood inquiries and interviews. The focused and coordinated efforts were aimed to locate Bird and bring him safely into custody.
At approximately 9:15 p.m., La Ronge RCMP received a report that Bird was at a residence in La Ronge. La Ronge RCMP officers immediately attended the residence and located and arrested Bird without incident.
Bird was transported to the La Ronge RCMP detachment and will remain in custody.
Saskatchewan RCMP WEST would like to thank La Ronge RCMP and Saskatoon GIS for their assistance in the investigation, which resulted in the safe arrest.