WESTLOCK – A 31-year-old man facing violence related charges in Westlock court appeared in Morinville Court of Justice on additional charges.
Rick Ernest Atzler appeared in Morinville court in person on Oct. 24. He had been released on bail on Oct. 21 in St Albert Court of Justice after the Crown had agreed to his release.
Justice Gordon D. Putnam adjourned Atzler’s matter to Nov. 7 to set a trial date on charges of careless use of a firearm and unauthorized possession of a firearm.
Atzler was the subject a police manhunt in September. He is accused of pointing a firearm at someone and threatening to kill them. Officers responded right away but by the time they arrived at the home in Westlock County, he had fled, say police. Westlock RCMP then released Atzler’s photo and issued an emergency alert warning the public that they were searching for Atzler, who was considered armed and dangerous.
He was arrested about two weeks later at a home in the Hamlet of Opal, by Westlock RCMP, using a drone, and with help from Redwater RCMP and K Division Police Dog Services.
In that incident, Atzler was 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.
Atzler also faces charges in Fort Saskatchewan court where he is scheduled to appear on Nov. 7.
