Braidy Vermette is back in custody. Prince Albert police say Vermette and his girlfriend, Tristen Smith, were arrested overnight.
Police received a tip Wednesday afternoon as to the location of Vermette and RCMP deployed its emergency response team to a home north of Prince Albert on Red Wing Road, west of Highway 2.
Just after 1 a.m. CT Thursday, Vermette and Smith were arrested while leaving the house after it caught on fire. The house is expected to be a total loss. Fire crews were still on scene Thursday and some road restrictions were in place in the RM of Buckland.
There were no injuries among Vermette, Smith, the officers or members of the public.
Vermette, 28, escaped late in the evening on March 30 after a daring ambush.
READ MORE: Sask. murder suspect escapes custody after corrections officers ambushed
He was being taken to hospital by correctional officers for treatment of a self-inflicted arm injury when they were approached by two masked individuals – one armed with a gun and the other bear mace.
The two correctional officers were sprayed and Vermette went willingly with the two individuals in a dark-coloured SUV.
Vermette is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Troy Napope, who has been missing since June of last year. He was being held at the Prince Albert Provincial Correctional Centre for a pending court appearance on April 4.
RCMP have asked for another police service to conduct an independent, external investigation into the matter. An independent observer has also been requested from the Saskatchewan government.
The Saskatchewan Ministry of Justice is still investigating the initial ambush and considering possible protocol changes. Giving guards guns is not being considered, according to Drew Wilby, executive director of corporate affairs with the Ministry of Justice.
“I think it’s safe to say that if we had armed correction workers, we may not have two corrections workers that are alive today,” Wilby said.
Police are still searching for Ricky Favel, 30, who is currently wanted for breach of recognizance and is believed to be one of the individuals who took part in the ambush.
Favel is five-foot six, 166 pounds with black hair and brown eyes.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Prince Albert police at 306-953-4222 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Ryan Kessler contributed to this story
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