Alexa Emerson, who was wanted by Saskatoon police in six of the eight recent suspicious package cases in the city, is in custody.
Emerson, who also goes by the name of Amanda Totchek, turned herself into police just after 7:30 a.m. CT on Monday.
She remains in custody and is expected to appear in front of a justice of the peace on Monday evening. Emerson is scheduled to make her first appearance in Saskatoon provincial court on Tuesday morning.
“We don’t have any information to my knowledge that she was being set-up,” Saskatoon Police Service spokesperson Kelsie Fraser said.
Police indicated that Emerson will face numerous charges in relation to the latest string of suspicious package scares and that she would be held in jail overnight.
READ MORE: Amanda Totchek wanted in six recent Saskatoon suspicious package cases
Police had issued a Canada-wide warrant for Emerson’s arrest on April 7 after suspicious packages were delivered to Buena Vista School, the Saskatoon Cancer Centre, several downtown locations and her attorney’s office between March 16 and 30.
Two other suspicious package cases remain under investigation by police.
Emerson is charged with mischief and uttering threats after five packages containing unknown substances were sent to various Saskatoon businesses last November.
She has pleaded not guilty and is currently scheduled for a four-day trial starting on May 15 on those charges.
“If indeed this was the person that was involved, we are somewhat relieved,” Wayne Rodger, with the Saskatoon Fire Department, said.
For weeks now, emergency crews have been at the mercy of these suspicious package calls.
The response required has been massive and taxing to all involved. The fire department alone has had to call in back-up during each and every incident.
“We’re taking up to 20 operational positions throughout the city so we need to back-fill them somewhat – so we’re bringing in eight of our staff on rest days as well as the battalion chief to be able to deal with any incidents that may occur during the duration of the suspicious package management,” Rodger said.
READ MORE: Suspicious package calls cost Saskatoon $75K
Approximately $106,000 is the estimated response cost for this latest series of suspicious packages.
Resources required downtown in the fall exceeded $65,000.
If convicted, Emerson might face having to pay the money back. She is now being represented by a new lawyer after her former attorney was sent a package of his own on March 30.
At this time, police said they remain vigilant since more packages could be en route and encourage anyone who comes in contact with a suspicious delivery to call 911 immediately.
Comments