Manitoba town braces for possible return of violent patient
The southern Manitoba town of Niverville is on alert for the possible homecoming of an escaped psychiatric patient who killed his stepmotherthere six years ago.
Earl Joey Wiebe, 23, ran from escorts at a Winnipeg hospital Wednesday while at a medical appointment. Winnipeg police continue to search for Wiebe, who they describe as having "violent tendencies."
Wiebe has been a patient in the high-security wing of the Selkirk Mental Health Centre since he was found not criminally responsible for the 2000 murder of stepmother Candis Moizer in the family's Niverville home.
RCMP in the community of 1,600, locatedabout 40kilometres south of Winnipeg, is boosting its police presence around town, should Wiebe try to come home.
"I think there's that risk. He is from the community, of course, and he has step-siblings in the school, in the elementary school," said John Peters, superintendent of the Hanover School Division, on Friday.
"There is always that possibility that he may decide to come home."
Area schools on high alert
The school division has put emergency plans into place at Niverville'stwo schools, especially the elementary school, Peters said. Photos of Wiebe have been circulated to teachers and parents, while staff and volunteers are patrolling the playgrounds during recess.
"Access to the school is through the front entrance during class time only. All other doors are locked, so people must come through the front door," Peters said.
"At recess time, there are adults positioned at all doors while children are outside. Teachers will walk their town students outside for pickup by parents or for children to walk home, and there's just general increased supervision for bus students, as well as increased supervision on the playground."
Peters added that parents have been supportive of the heightened security measures, with many of them volunteering to patrol the playgrounds.
"There's always the fine line. We don't want to frighten children too much," Peters said. "We want to give them enough information, but we want to do it in such a way that they're not frightened by it."
Wiebe's lawyer urges him to turn self in
Earlier Friday, Wiebe's lawyer urged Wiebe to turn himself in rather than be captured. Greg Brodsky told CBC News that Wiebe was growing frustrated that he hadn't received treatment for his mental illness, but could have a better chance of getting treated if he turned himself in.
Winnipeg police continue to urge public caution and for people to call 911 or the Selkirk RCMP immediately if they see Wiebe.