Rob Drinkwater, THE CANADIAN PRESS


EDMONTON - The latest in a series of high-powered stakeouts finally bore fruit Friday with the arrest of an Alberta man accused of first-degree murder in the shooting of a Northwest Territories RCMP officer.

RCMP confirmed that Emrah Bulatci, 23, surrendered at a home in Edmonton late in the afternoon. He had not yet been arraigned but would likely make a first court appearance next week, said Cpl. Wayne Oakes.

Tactical squads had surrounded a home all day and even evacuated a local elementary school before they fired concussion devices called flash-bangs.

Bulatci and two other people emerged and were immediately taken into custody without incident.

With heavily armed officers training their weapons on him, a shirtless Bulatci was handcuffed and taken to an ambulance that was standing by.

That ambulance, surrounded by an escort of 12 police vehicles, then drove to a local hospital. Oakes said that because Bulatci had been in hiding for six days, police wanted him to be "checked out" medically.

Bulatci is accused of murdering Const. Christopher Worden, who was gunned down early last Saturday morning while answering a trouble call near a suspected drug house in Hay River, about 400 kilometres south of Yellowknife.

News of his arrest came as relief to residents of Hay River.

"I'm glad it's over before the funeral on Monday and the other services that are going to take place," said Mayor John Pollard.

"At least we know now that he's in jail."

Bulatci is also facing several drug-related charges in Edmonton but had been free on bail.

The operation that resulted in Bulatci's arrest was just the latest in a series of dramatic stakeouts.

On Thursday police surrounded a home in Edmonton for about nine hours, but the house turned out to be empty. However, a number of people in the neighbourhood were taken in for questioning.

There have also been searches of homes and motels earlier this week in High Level, a northern Alberta community where the suspect has also lived.

At a news conference Friday at RCMP's K-Division headquarters in Edmonton, Chief Supt. Fred Kamins commended the efforts of the officers.

"This arrest concludes a very intense search that has either involved or impacted law enforcement agencies across Canada," he said.

"Police resources from the Northwest Territories and Alberta, including the Edmonton police service as well as the Regina police service, have been most directly engaged.

"I'd like to comment on their dedication, diligence and professionalism, which I can only describe as outstanding."

Bulatci most recently lived in Edmonton with his girlfriend and their three-month-old baby girl.

The girlfriend's mother said Friday that her family's thoughts are with Worden's loved ones.

"Our hearts, thoughts and condolences do go out to Const. Worden's family," said the mother, who declined to give her name.

"We hope they're able to find their peace."

She also defended Bulatci.

"The man that we've come to know and love is not capable of what he's being accused of. The man that I know, it's not possible."

RCMP have declined to answer questions about the circumstances surrounding Worden's death, including queries about why it took police so long to find the officer after he was shot, what they know about the fatal attack, the cause of death, and what type of firearm was used.

Worden, a married father of one daughter, will be given a regimental funeral in Ottawa on Monday.

Many of the 3,800 residents of Hay River have been busy making 3,000 blue lapel ribbons to be worn in Worden's memory.

On Friday night, a group had gathered in a local lounge for a relaxing get-together when the news of Bulatci's arrest came on the big-screen TV.

"Everybody sort of stopped what they were doing and listened very intently," said Candi Carleton, one of the organizers behind the blue-ribbon campaign. "There was sort of a cheer and people clapped. There was very much a sense of relief."

But Pollard said there is also still a lot of anger in the community.

"I'm sure some of that will go away with the fact that he's been captured, but it's still a fact that in our community a young police officer lost his life."

Kamins said he couldn't speculate about what charges the other people who were in the home with Bulatci might face, noting it depends on their level of involvement.

He said it was unlikely, however, that Bulatci remained at large for six days without some assistance.

"We had a lot of people out looking for him," Kamins said. "I'd be surprised if someone could do that by themselves."

Kamins added he was also surprised someone didn't turn Bulatci in sooner, suggesting that the type of people he associated with may not have considered the crime he's accused of as being very serious.

RCMP say they aren't seeking anyone else at the moment in connection with Worden's death.

Kamins was just happy with the accomplishment of ending the massive manhunt for the suspect.

"I felt relief . . . because no more of our officers were potentially to be injured."

© 2007 The Canadian Press