500-pound escaped killer arrested in Alberta

EDMONTON - William Bicknell, an armed 500-pound killer who escaped from police custody earlier this month, has been arrested in northern Alberta after a tense police standoff.
The standoff ended Saturday night about 20 km northeast of Grande Prairie, Alta., hours after a shot was fired, injuring a male police officer during an earlier pursuit.
His arrest came just one day after RCMP investigators reported that Bicknell — who overpowered a corrections officer in a government vehicle near Edmonton on March 10 while on a day pass from the Drumheller Correctional Institution - was believed to be in the area.
Saturday's drama began when RCMP responded to a disturbance call at a rural home on Saturday afternoon.
When Mounties arrived, the man took off in a truck and during an ensuing pursuit, a shot was fired at a patrol car. The bullet pierced the windshield causing superficial wounds to the officer, whether from the bullet or glass is unclear.
Police blocked off all roads leading to the scene, about a 30 km radius around Sexsmith, Alta. That perimeter was later reduced to a 10 km area, allowing one major highway to be reopened.

The truck was in a ditch when the standoff ended at about 8:30 p.m. local time, and the suspect was taken to hospital in Grande Prairie, under a police watch.
His injuries are believed to be non-life threatening.
"The event is over and no one was killed," said RCMP spokesman Sgt. Tim Taniguchi.
The province's police watchdog, Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT), is investigating the incident.
"We have two people hurt – a police officer and the suspect – and ASIRT conducts those investigations," said Taniguchi.
Bicknell - six-foot-six and 500 pounds - fled from his corrections officer last week in a car he stole in the Chipman area, about 76 km east of Edmonton.
In October 2003, Bicknell was sentenced to life in prison after beating a woman with a baseball bat and dumping her body in B.C.

Bicknell's sister, Sandra Myshak, 47, was arrested in Edmonton March 11 and faces seven criminal charges in relation to helping her brother escape from custody and acquire a firearm.
Police have also accused him of holding an elderly man hostage in a Strathcona County farm for 10 hours, Monday — four days after his escape.
A 72-year-old Sherwood Park man told police he was checking on a farm residence he owns in the rural area of Vegreville, Alta., on Monday morning, when he was allegedly confronted by Bicknell armed with a long-barrelled firearm.
"He was held hostage for approximately 10 hours before he was released unharmed," Taniguchi said in a press release. "He was allegedly told by Bicknell not to report this incident to police for several days."
On Thursday, Mounties had issued a public warning that Bicknell was believed to be in the Peace River, Alta., area.
His tattoos include a unicorn on his left shoulder, a cobra on his left arm and a heart on his chest.
Police initially reported Bicknell weighed 402 pounds. They have since upgraded his weight to 500.







jeff.cummings@sunmedia.ca
- With files from Damien Wood