Northern Alberta Relief: Shelter-in-Place Lifted as Suspect Apprehended in Cadotte Lake Incident

A sigh of relief swept across northern Alberta on Thursday afternoon as the extensive shelter-in-place order for the Cadotte Lake area was finally called off. This welcomed announcement came after RCMP successfully took a suspect into custody, bringing an end to a tense standoff that had gripped the community for hours.

The incident began to unfold in the early hours of Thursday, with a shelter-in-place directive issued around 4:30 a.m.

for the Hamlet of Cadotte Lake, along with surrounding regions including the Woodland Cree First Nation and the Peerless Trout First Nation reserves. Residents were urged to remain indoors, lock their doors, and avoid all hitchhikers as police actively searched for a person of interest.

The individual sought by authorities was identified as 28-year-old Wacey Regan.

RCMP had issued a public plea for assistance in locating Regan, who was described as a 5’8” Indigenous male with a slender build, weighing approximately 160 pounds. He was last seen wearing a grey hoodie and grey pants.

The dramatic escalation of events stemmed from reports of shots fired in Cadotte Lake earlier in the day.

Authorities indicated that the incident might be connected to an alleged assault that occurred on Wednesday evening, around 10:30 p.m. at a residence in Cadotte Lake. RCMP from the Peace River detachment were the first to respond to the initial assault complaint, which involved a weapon.

Later on Thursday morning, around 11:30 a.m., the investigation led officers back to the same Cadotte Lake residence where the previous night's assault had taken place.

It was during this time that police encountered Regan and a report of shots fired was made, further intensifying the situation and leading to the widespread shelter-in-place order.

Thankfully, by approximately 12:30 p.m., the RCMP confirmed that Wacey Regan had been successfully apprehended. A subsequent update around 2:40 p.m.

officially announced the lifting of the shelter-in-place order, allowing residents to cautiously resume their normal activities. The swift and decisive action by law enforcement ensured the safety of the community, bringing a peaceful resolution to a potentially dangerous situation.