Accused in Saskatoon white powder case is 'relentless,' Crown says
Alexa Emerson is accused of issuing bomb threats, sending white powder to businesses
The woman police believe orchestrated a series of white powder scares and bomb threats across Saskatoon is "relentless" and likely to reoffend if she is released on bail, according to the Crown prosecutor trying the case.
Jennifer Claxton-Viczko says she does not believe Alexa Emerson, who is also known as Amanda Totchek, should be let out on bail because Emerson has proven herself incapable of stopping the alleged harassment.
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"It's clear she is relentless and just will not stop," Claxton-Viczko told reporters outside of Emerson's bail hearing Wednesday.
"It's my view that no amount of money or conditions is going to keep her from continuing harassing the people she has been harassing and continue to wreak havoc on the community."
White powder scares cost city at least $200K
Emerson is facing more than 80 charges related to white powder scares and bomb threats in Saskatoon.
The first wave of white powder scares that paralyzed parts of the city and led to several buildings being evacuated happened in November, and resulted in Emerson being charged with 20 offences.
Emerson was again arrested on April 11 and charged with sending suspicious packages to businesses, schools and the Saskatoon Cancer Centre this spring.
That second wave of white powder scares happened while Emerson was out on bail.
Police eventually laid 60 more charges against her relating to the powder scares and bomb threats they believe she orchestrated.
Claxton-Viczko said the white powder scares and bomb threats cost the city police and firefighters well over $200,000 in resources.
Entire city blocks were shut down and buildings evacuated.
Aside from the financial impact, Claxton-Viczko said there was emotional impact on people in Saskatoon as well. Plus, the white powder scare at the Cancer Centre meant treatment of patients had to be delayed, she said.
No word on mystery woman from video
Shortly after Emerson's arrest, a video was sent to local media.
In it, a mystery woman claims responsibility for sending the suspicious packages this spring and claims that Emerson is wrongly charged.
Police have not said whether or not they have found the woman in the video.
Claxton-Viczko said the case will be based largely on circumstantial and "similar fact evidence."
"It's going to be a matter of putting all the dots up and then connecting all those dots for the trier of fact to be able to persuade them that all the evidence is there connecting them together," she said.
Emerson is due back in court on Friday to determine whether or not she will be released on bail.