Subject of Manhunt East of Owen Sound Now in Custody
Highway 26 and intersecting roads have reopened as OPP announce one person has been taken into custody. The search for a suspect wanted by Owen Sound Police Service has ended.
Residents of farms and homes east of Owen Sound can breathe a little easier this morning as OPP have announced the capture of a suspect sought in a ground search near Highway 26.
No information has been provided on the nature or location of the incident that launched the manhunt.
Grey Bruce OPP turned responsibility for communicating updates to the public over to the Owen Sound Police Service at 7:45 a.m. this morning with a statement that said the incident began in the City of Owen Sound and is an OSPS investigation.
The Owen Sound Current has reached out to OSPS with questions and will provide more information as it’s available.
Community members began noticing an increased police presence in and around the city late afternoon. One woman told The Owen Sound Current she witnessed a vehicle fleeing police at Vault Works Road around 6 p.m.
Drivers reportedly encountered police vehicles blocking roadways in various places, from Grey Road 17 to the Service Ontario in Owen Sound. Residents of a 14th St West apartment building noticed police stationed there throughout the evening.
The first public notice from police came from the OPP West Region social media accounts just before 8 p.m. It warned residents of an increased police presence near Highway 26 and Grey Road 11, and asked people to avoid the area.
Residents reported seeing what appeared to be a large ground search in progress near Scenic City Golf, with two readers telling The Owen Sound Current they saw headlights on the fairways.
At 11:45 p.m., Grey Bruce OPP released a media update that expanded the search area to the intersection of Grey Road 11 and Grey Road 15, and between Highway 26 and Story Book Park Road.
By 12:10 a.m. on Monday, April 14, OPP announced they had cleared the area of their resources, noting that it was still an active investigation.
At 8:15 a.m., OPP announced that due to new information, they were back on the search at an area of Highway 26. Drivers and residents were told to expect to see highway closures on Highway 26 between Grey Road 11 and Grey Road 15 and Grey Road 11 between Highway 26 and Story Book Park Road.
Fifteen minutes later, OPP announced that one individual has been taken into custody, and all roads have reopened.
Officers from the Grey Bruce OPP, West Region Emergency Response Team, and West Region Canine Unit assisted in the search.
In a prepared statement to media, Grey Bruce OPP reminded residents, “…that when they advise you to lock your doors and vehicles, it's because someone is currently at large. The police want to prevent that individual from gaining access to your home or stealing your vehicle. As a general safety measure, it's always a good habit to keep your residence and vehicle doors locked—even when you're at home.”
This is a developing story.