WESTLOCK – A bail hearing has been scheduled for a 31-year-old Westlock man who was the subject of a two-week police manhunt.
Criminal defence lawyer Methal Fayad appeared in St. Albert Court of Justice on Oct. 7 on Rick Ernest Atzler’s behalf and asked the court to adjourn the matter to Oct. 21 for a bail hearing.
Atzler has been in custody since his arrest on Oct. 3. Westlock RCMP, with assistance from Redwater RCMP and K Division Police Dog Services, and using a drone, located Atzler at a home in the Hamlet of Opal, which is about 60 kilometres from Westlock.
Justice B. R. Garriock asked prosecutor Cameron Mitchell if the Crown was proceeding by summary or indictable offence. Mitchell told the court the Crown reserves its election until they get all the disclosure from police.
Atzler faces charges from a Sept. 19 incident where he allegedly pointed a firearm at someone and threatened to kill them.
Police say Atzler fled the scene before they arrived. RCMP then released his photo and issued an advisory warning the public that he was considered armed and dangerous.
After Atzler was arrested by police on Oct. 3, he was brought before a justice of the peace and remanded in custody.
According to court documents, he is charged with two counts of threatening to cause death/bodily harm, assault causing bodily harm, assault, pointing a firearm, two counts of unauthorized possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm in a vehicle, possession of a firearm knowing its possession was unauthorized, criminal harassment, careless use of a firearm, and failing to comply with a release order.
