A woman charged in last week’s suspicious packages incident is pleading not guilty and believes she is being framed, according to her lawyer.
Last Tuesday, five packages containing unknown substances were sent to various locations in Saskatoon. The contents were later tested and deemed harmless.
Authorities allege that Alexa Emerson, 31, is at the centre of the incident. She appeared in provincial court via video Tuesday and faces 15 charges that include mischief and uttering threats.
READ MORE: No charges for two people arrested in Saskatoon suspicious package cases
Emerson’s defence lawyer, Brian Pfefferle, said she is “frankly shocked that she’s being implicated by the police in the case,” and noted that Emerson was in custody for a different matter while Tuesday’s events unfolded.
“To say that she feels that someone is framing her or putting the spotlight on her falsely would be an understatement,” Pfefferle said to reporters outside of provincial court Tuesday.
“That’s the only reasonable explanation that could come at this stage given some of the circumstances surrounding it.”
Last week, Pfefferle indicated he would argue for Emerson’s release on bail, however after further consolation decided against taking that route.
“I think it’s probably better for everybody that she remain in custody right now, where for her own safety every phone call, except for calls to counsel, are monitored, and there’s not going to be any suggestion that there’s anything nefarious going on,” Pfefferle said.
“Certainly it was her concern that if she was released in the community that she may be a target.”
READ MORE: Saskatoon suspicious package incident costs services nearly $67K
Emerson also goes by the name Amanda Totchek and was previously implicated in a 2014 harassment case.
Tuesday’s incident caused a number of roads in downtown Saskatoon to be blocked off for the afternoon and into the evening as more than 60 emergency personnel responded, according to city officials. The effort cost the Saskatoon Police Service and Saskatoon Fire Department nearly $67,000.