Okotoks homeowner Eddie Maurice, who shot a trespasser years ago, said "our system is broken," after discovering the same man was arrested in rural Alberta with multiple warrants out for his arrest..In 2018, while trespassing late at night on private property in Okotoks, Ryan Watson was hit in the arm by a ricochet bullet from a gun used by Maurice, which was meant to be a warning shot..After Maurice's decision to defend his property, he was caught up in court appearances for months with the threat of facing potential prison time. .Last Wednesday, Watson was again apprehended by police during an alleged break-in and theft, according to a June 7 press release..After a 5:21 a.m. break-in complaint on June 1 from Telus Communications in Wheatland County, RCMP arrived to find two suspects on the scene. .Officers were able to block exit routes and detain the two offenders, one being Watson, the other an unidentified woman. A vehicle search revealed a large amount of copper wire, cutting implements, and break-in tools..Watson has been charged and released and will appear in court on a future date..Police reported Watson has nine outstanding warrants spanning four different police jurisdictions, along with the new incident charges.."Obviously our criminal system has failed us in more ways than one," Maurice told the Western Standard after learning of Watson's latest alleged theft.."How is a repeat offender, with multiple warrants out for him, able to be a part of our society when all he does is re-offend and commit crimes against law-abiding citizens?".For the most recent incident, Watson is facing charges of break and enter with intent to commit an indictable offence, theft over $5,000, possession of break-in tools and operating a motor vehicle without an operator's licence.."For what I had to go through just to prove my innocence and being treated worse than the criminals themselves, we let him go with only minor fines — that does nothing," said Maurice.."How much money and time has he caused us taxpayers when nothing is done? Our system is broken and it needs to change.".The co-accused in the June 1 incident — a woman who is also wanted on outstanding warrants from other jurisdictions — was unnamed in the press release. The unidentified woman was released and will attend a future court date.
