North Battleford escapee in custody after Saskatoon standoff

Joseph Yaremko, the man involved in a standoff on the city's east side, is now in police custody. Yaremko escaped custody from a psychiatric prison facility near North Battleford over the weekend.  

Officers have spent most of Tuesday at an apartment block in the 2100 block of 7th Street East.

Prisoner with violent past escapes near North Battleford

Earlier in the day, Saskatoon police public affairs director Alyson Edwards said they have had contact with the 32-year-old and believed he was alone. 

"We don't have anyone injured, thankfully," she said.

According to RCMP, Yaremko was picked up around 9 p.m. CST on Sunday by someone in a waiting vehicle outside the psychiatric facility near North Battleford. It was not immediately known how he was able to breach the secure facility. 

RCMP said Yaremko may be unstable and noted he has a violent past.

Police response

Just after 11 a.m., Tuesday, police received a call that a man had barricaded himself in an apartment in Saskatoon. Members from the patrol, emergency response and crisis negotiator teams were sent to the scene. 

Traffic on 7th Street East was restricted between Preston and Grosvenor Avenue.