A 44-year-old Brandon man is facing numerous charges, including possession of a controlled substance, after recently being arrested by Grand Rapids RCMP.
On February 23, 2019, at 9am, Grand Rapids RCMP received a report of an erratic male verbally threatening to shoot people while he stood in the middle of Highway 6, approximately 68 kilometres north of Grand Rapids.
Witnesses on scene reported that no firearm was visible but that the man’s behaviour was becoming increasingly violent. At one point, the man began punching and banging his head against the window of a semi-trailer while uttering threats towards the driver.
Police say that a number of semi-truck drivers had stopped and used their vehicles to block off the highway while RCMP were en route.
Upon arrival at the scene, officers observed a male who was clearly agitated and who refused police commands to remove himself from the middle of the highway. All attempts by officers to de-escalate the situation were ineffective. Eventually, officers were able to approach the male and he was apprehended without injury.
As the investigation continued, a vehicle associated to the suspect was found approximately one kilometre north along Highway 6. Officers observed footprints from the vehicle heading towards the woods. As the officers approached this vehicle, a female was observed exiting the wooded area and walking towards the vehicle. The female was searched and was found to be in possession of methamphetamine. Officers searched the vehicle and located a knife and some illicit pills.
Investigation later determined that the male and female suspects had been traveling in the vehicle together.
RCMP report that 44-year-old Raymond Vidler from Brandon was arrested and charged with mischief, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and possession of a controlled substance. The 42-year-old female, also from Brandon, was arrested with charges pending.
