WINNIPEG, Man. — A man wanted on warrants by the Nipawin RCMP, Tisdale RCMP, Hudson Bay RCMP and Swan River, Man. RCMP has been charged with further offences after being arrested in Winnipeg May 6.
Last week, Saskatchewan RCMP asked for the public’s assistance locating Matthew Barker, who they said may be armed and dangerous and was actively evading police.
At that time, his charges included dangerous operation of a conveyance, failure to stop while being pursued by a police officer and trafficking stolen property.
Officers from Saskatchewan RCMP’s Crime Reduction Team and Warrant Enforcement Suppression Team, Manitoba RCMP’s Crime Reduction Enforcement Support Team, along with officers from numerous detachments, were actively trying to locate and arrest him.
As a result of Barker's arrest at a Winnipeg location, officers located approximately 27 grams of methamphetamine along with a weapon and drug-related paraphernalia.
Subsequent to his arrest, officers conducted a search of a hotel room used by Barker and located several loaded handguns.
Matthew Barker was remanded into custody for a court appearance scheduled May 9 in Winnipeg on the following charges:
- two counts of unsafe storage of a firearm;
- two counts of possession of a restricted firearm without licence / registration;
- two counts of possession of a firearm when knowing possession unauthorized;
- carrying concealed weapon;
- possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine);
- five counts of fail to comply with release order condition.
RCMP continue to investigate.
Barker is from the Swan River, Man., and according to police frequently travelled to the Nipawin, Tisdale and Hudson Bay area.
