Bilijk boy charged after emergency alert
Kingsclear First Nation teen accused of possession of stolen vehicle in Zealand on Tuesday
A Bilijk (Kingsclear) First Nation teenager was charged in provincial court Tuesday afternoon in a case related to an Alert Ready emergency message in the Zealand/Burtts Corner area earlier in the day.
The RCMP issued the Alert Ready emergency message Tuesday morning for Zealand and Burtts Corner, just outside of the north side of Fredericton.
“... Police are searching for individuals reported to be carrying firearms,” the message said. “Please shelter in place and avoid the area.”
However, shortly before 10 a.m., about an hour and a half after the initial alert, the RCMP issued a new one, announcing the situation was over.
“The RCMP operation in the area of the 104 Hwy in Zealand and Burtts Corner has ended,” the latest alert message stated.
“Residents may exit their homes and return to normal activities. Police remain in the area as part of the investigation.”
In a subsequent post on social media, the Mounties said officers effected two arrests in the case.
“Two individuals are now in custody, and there is no further risk to the public,” the force stated.
One of those two individuals - a 16-year-old boy from Bilijk First Nation - appeared in Fredericton provincial court Tuesday afternoon by telephone from an RCMP detachment.
He was charged with stealing alcohol and fuel from Fen’s Market, possessing a stolen 2012 Subaru Forester belonging to Lawrence Sacobie, and breaching a youth probation order, all on Tuesday in Zealand.
Despite the RCMP’s advisory that the situation had involved armed individuals and its order for residents to shelter in place, none of the charges laid Tuesday related to weapons.
Because he’s under the age of 18, the young defendant’s identity is protected as per the provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
Crown prosecutor Jennifer Bueno objected to the youth’s release Tuesday, and Judge Lyne Raymond remanded him pending a bail hearing, which she scheduled for Thursday.
Duty counsel Edward Derrah said he’s spoken with the boy, but he believed he hadn’t had an opportunity to speak with a parent or guardian.
The teenager told the court there was no parent to contact.
No mention was made of the second individual that police arrested in the same incident Tuesday morning.
Don MacPherson can be contacted at ftonindependent@gmail.com.