RCMP arrest man in Taylor following day-long manhunt

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — A police manhunt lasting several hours ended with a man being arrested, according to the Fort St. John RCMP detachment.

A new press release from the detachment says officers executed a ‘Feeney warrant’ at a local residence shortly before 10 a.m. on Thursday, September 11th, with assistance from Peace Liard police dog services, the north district emergency response team and a tactical armoured vehicle.

A Feeney warrant is a type of arrest warrant that gives police the authority to come onto someone’s property and into their business or home to arrest them. The name comes from a 1997 Supreme Court judgment.

According to police, the warrant granted them the authority to enter the home and arrest 39-year-old Johnathon Michael Peters, who was wanted for uttering threats, mischief over $5,000, refusing to provide a sample, obstructing a peace officer and breaching a release order.

Officers searched the home and found Peters wasn’t there, but “additional information” reportedly indicated he was located in Taylor.

Shortly before noon on September 11th, according to the release, police attempted a traffic stop of a side-by-side in Taylor that Peters was alleged to be driving. 

Police allege the driver fled the scene inside the vehicle towards Peace Island Park, and officers say they monitored the vehicle until it became inoperable a few hours later on a Pine River island.

“This was a dynamic and lengthy incident,” said Scott Watson, staff sergeant with the Fort St. John RCMP detachment. “The outstanding coordination between multiple RCMP units enabled them to safely locate and arrest this individual.”

Peters was arrested at roughly 2 p.m. on September 11th.

Peters was held for court, and is now facing additional charges of flight from a peace officer, dangerous operation of a conveyance and obstructing a peace officer.

Court Services Online indicates Peters had a bail hearing on Friday, September 12th, but does not currently have any information regarding the results of that hearing.