Man wanted in violent kidnapping in northern Manitoba arrested, woman found safe

A man who prompted a dangerous person alert after police say he kidnapped a woman in northern Manitoba has been found.

In a Friday morning post on Facebook, Pimicikamak Cree Nation Chief David Monias said RCMP had advised him that Joshua Paupanekis, 39, was in custody and Raeanne Thomas, 20, “is safe and is currently undergoing medical examination and care.”

The RCMP later issued a news release confirming the news.

Multiple RCMP units from both Manitoba and Saskatchewan were sent to Pimicikamak over the past 24 hours, including a specialized search plane, the news release said.

Police got information around 11:15 a.m. Friday that led officers to a home in Pimicikamak, where Paupanekis was taken into custody without incident, RCMP said.

Thomas was also found safe in the home with minor injuries and was taken to the nursing station as a precaution, police said.

As a result, the alert, which was issued just after 11 a.m. Thursday, is now over.

RCMP were called around 5:40 a.m. Thursday about an aggravated assault at a residence in the community, about 530 kilometres north of Winnipeg.

Paupanekis went into a home and hit a 24-year-old man with a hammer, according to RCMP.

Paupanekis, who also had a knife, then abducted Thomas from the residence, police allege.

RCMP issued the dangerous person alert, which triggered alarms on mobile phones across the province, Thursday morning. In it, police said they believed Thomas was in immediate danger.

In his Facebook post, Monias said he and his council extend sincere thanks to the RCMP and emergency responders for their swift action, and also thanked community members who remained vigilant.

He asked that people now respect the privacy of the victim and family “and allow law enforcement and medical professionals to continue their work.”

Further updates will be provided if and when appropriate, he wrote.