Police looking into how N.L. man left home undetected

ST. JOHN’S – Newfoundland police were trying to determine Monday how a man involved in a weeklong standoff was able to escape his home undetected this weekend even though it was said to be surrounded by RCMP.

RCMP Sgt. Boyd Merrill said there was a limited number of officers who could operate in the area around the Bay Bulls, N.L. home Leo Crockwell was refusing to leave during the armed standoff. He was eventually arrested in a community about 23 kilometres away following a tip to police.

RCMP had said their use of the water cannons to flood Crockwell’s home on Friday night in an effort to flush him out may have affected their ability to monitor him.

"We made a decision to implement the water, it wasn’t without high risk. The risk was that we had to leave a portion of the house unmanned or unsupervised during that time period. It was a calculated risk, but it was made in the interest of preserving life," Merrill said.

Merrill credited the introduction of the water with Crockwell’s decision to leave the home, based on comments said to have been made by Crockwell after leaving the area.

"He was able to depart the residence without the emergency response team seeing him. That is a fact. That is a fact of this investigation."

The RCMP officer added the police perimeter was limited to road blocks and, knowing the area, there would have been ways for Crockwell to slip away, once outside of the so-called red zone where the emergency response team operated.

He stressed that there was no injury or loss of life – despite the fact shots were fired at RCMP officers and a police robot during the incident – and that the objective of removing Crockwell from the home was met.

He said the RCMP is reviewing the case, as with all critical incidents, and would learn from the experience.

Crockwell was expected back in court Tuesday after being charged with five counts of attempted murder Sunday in addition to another 11 stemming from the incident at his home.