Charges laid after emergency alert on Onion Lake Cree Nation

The man at the centre of a dangerous person alert on the Onion Lake Cree Nation is now facing charges.

The alert went out Thursday just after 11 a.m., when police asked the public to be on the lookout for 35-year-old Randy Cooke, who was believed to be on foot in the community while carrying a gun. The alert urged residents to stay inside, stay away from windows, and avoid picking up hitchhikers or travelling within the Cree Nation.

Cooke was ultimately found and arrested at around 4:30 p.m. Thursday, and the alert was subsequently cancelled.

On Friday, the RCMP released more details of the incident and the charges Cooke is now facing.

“On July 27, 2023, at approximately 9:16 a.m., Onion Lake RCMP responded to the report that Randy Cooke was in possession of a firearm and causing damage at a residence in the Molson Hill area in Onion Lake Cree Nation. Cooke departed the residence prior to police arrival and was believed to still be armed with a firearm,” police said in a statement.

“Onion Lake RCMP located Cooke walking outside and he appeared to be in possession of a firearm. Cooke ignored verbal commands from the officers to drop the firearm and ran toward a wooded area.”

The RCMP said police set up a perimeter to secure the area, and called in additional officers for help while working with local band security as well.

Police searched the wooded area and several nearby outbuildings for Cooke, but a tip that came in at around 4:10 p.m. told them he was inside a nearby home, where he was arrested without incident.

“Officers are working to identify and locate the weapon Cooke was initially reported to be in possession of,” the RCMP noted.

Cooke is now facing charges of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and mischief under $5,000. He was scheduled to appear in a North Battleford courtroom Friday.