This morning, at approximately 12:30 a.m., Timothy Hackett was taken into custody following his escape from the West Coast Correctional Centre (WCCC), at approximately 6:00 p.m. yesterday.
Police officers from Bay St. George Detachment and General Investigation Section, along with RCMP Police Dog Services, searched for Hackett. Police Dog Services tracked the suspect from the WCCC, across a body of water and lost the track in the town of Stephenville.
Officers continued the investigation, which lead them to a residence on Poplar Drive in Stephenville. Police surrounded the residence. A negotiator with the RCMP was engaged and made contact with a woman inside the residence, who surrendered herself to police, exited the residence and was arrested for obstruction. Officers, along with Police Service Dog (PSD) Axel and his handler, entered the residence.
Hackett was apprehended by PSD Axel and was taken to hospital for treatment of minor injuries. This is the second time Hackett has been apprehended by a RCMP Police Service Dog. On September 17, 2019, during a car-jacking incident in Clarenville, Hackett assaulted an elderly lady, stole her vehicle and fled from police. He was later located hiding in the woods by Police Service Dog Grinch and was taken into custody.
He remains in custody at this time and will attend court today to face charges for escaping lawful custody.