Warrant issued for Alberta man in N.W.T. death of Mountie

RCMP have issued an arrest warrant for an Alberta man accused of shooting a Mountie in the Northwest Territories, warning that the 23-year-old should be considered armed and dangerous.

Police said late Sunday they want to arrest Emrah Bulatcifor first-degree murder in the death of Const. Christopher Worden inHay River, a small town about 400 kilometres south of Yellowknife.

Bulatci is also known as Justin Elise and was last seen in Edmonton and just north of the Alberta capital, in St. Albert, police said. He has blond hair, blue eyes, weighs about 135 pounds and is five feet tall.

Police said he should be considered armed and dangerous and is "associated" with a grey 2004 Ford Expedition SUV with the Alberta licence plate LEC 010.

In February, Bulatci was arrested during a drug bustin Edmonton, but he was released after posting $20,000 bail, the Edmonton Sun reported.

He was charged with possession of the proceeds of crime over $5,000, possession of the proceeds of crime under $5,000, careless storage of ammunition and two counts of breach of recognizance.

Bulatci's father, Erdogan Bulatci, told the Associated Press he hasn't seen or spoken to his son in more than a year. He said his son has an infant child with his girlfriend.

Earlier Sunday, dozens of police officers fanned out across Hay River in search of suspects after Worden was killed on Saturday.

Special crime units, including SWAT teams and emergency response officers, arrived from Yellowknife and Alberta to help in the investigation.

Police received the call for help from an apartment building at 4:58 a.m. MT Saturday, and Worden, who was on call, was dispatched, police said. When police lost radio contact with him, two backup officers were sent and they found him in a wooded area suffering from gunshot wounds.

Worden was rushed to hospital, where he died.

'I've locked all my windows and doors'

Police blocked off part of the town as they began searching vehicles, but the roadblocks were taken down Sunday morning.

Worden's wife, Jodie,mother of his infant daughter, spoke briefly Monday afternoon in Hay River, thanking Canadians for their support andrequesting that she and her family be allowed now to grieve privately.

She and relatives will head to Ottawa for the funeral. Following the service, an RCMP memorial service for Worden will be held in Hay River. Details for both services are pending.

Candace Walker, who works in a grocery store and was born and raised in Hay River, said it was strange to see officers with sniper rifles, and planes circling overhead.

"I won't let my kids outside. I've locked all my windows and doors, and I didn't want to come to work," she said.

"It's really frightening for people here in Hay River. Many people say they've never seen anything like it,"said theCBC's Joslyn Oosenbrug, who is in the community of about 3,500 people. "Being such a small town, everyone is anxiously waiting for more information."

At anews conferenceon Sunday, police assured the communitythat there was no imminent threat because they believed the suspect had fled Hay River, Oosenbrug reported.

Killing 'a senseless act of violence': PM

Worden, originally from Ottawa, joined the Mounties in 2002 and served most of his career in the Northwest Territories. He was one of nine officers of the Hay River detachment.

In a statement released Saturday evening, Prime Minister Stephen Harper gave his condolences to Worden's wife and baby, adding the officer lost his life to "a senseless act of violence.

"Const. Christopher John Worden died in the line of duty, doing what he loved, serving his country in the uniform of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The citizens of Hay River will mourn this loss and Canadians who knew Const. Worden will remember him for his professionalism and his dedication," Harper said.