A man implicated in a woman’s abduction in northern Manitoba, leading to a dangerous person alert, has been apprehended. Chief David Monias of Pimicikamak Cree Nation announced on Facebook that Joshua Paupanekis, 39, is now in custody, and the 20-year-old abducted woman is safe and receiving medical attention. The RCMP later confirmed this development.
Following information received on Friday morning, multiple RCMP units from Manitoba and Saskatchewan, along with a specialized search plane, were dispatched to Pimicikamak. Paupanekis was peacefully taken into custody at a residence in the community, where the abducted woman was also found unharmed but with minor injuries, receiving precautionary medical care.
The dangerous person alert, issued on Thursday morning after an aggravated assault involving Paupanekis, has now been lifted. The incident occurred in Pimicikamak, approximately 530 kilometers north of Winnipeg, where Paupanekis reportedly assaulted a man with a hammer before abducting the woman.
Chief Monias expressed gratitude to the RCMP, emergency responders, and vigilant community members in a Facebook post. He requested privacy for the victim and her family, allowing law enforcement and medical professionals to proceed with their duties. Further updates will be shared as deemed necessary.