By paNOW Staff

UPDATE: Accused murderer apprehended from burning house

Apr 7, 2016 | 8:44 AM

A man who escaped custody last week with the assistance of two masked and armed men, is back behind bars.

Police confirmed Braidy Vermette was found early Thursday morning at a residence in the RM of Buckland, north of Prince Albert.

Also arrested was Vermette’s girlfriend Tristen Smith who was wanted for breach of court conditions.

Since the arrest, the residence the pair was found in has all but burnt to the ground. Buckland Fire and Rescue responded to the blaze early this morning and worked to save the residence, but RCMP expected the house to be a total loss.

Neighbour Barret Laird said he woke up before 1 a.m. to people yelling and dogs barking. He saw an armoured police vehicle blocking the road and a SWAT team fanned across the residence’s front yard.

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“(The police) kept on yelling ‘get out of the house, get out of the house,’ and then the windows broke and the flames were shooting 20 to 30 feet into the air,” Laird said.

He remembers two names being called by police repeatedly and a woman being pulled from the home then handcuffed.

“(The police) were trying to get (the residents) out of the house but they just would not leave. Like, she was dragged out kicking and screaming while the house was engulfed in flames,” Laird said.

There are no reported injuries to any suspects, police or the public.

Vermette is charged with one count of first degree murder in relation to the death of Troy Napope in 2015.  

He escaped custody while receiving medical treatment for a self-inflicted cut on his arm.

The RCMP has requested another police service conduct an independent, external investigation into this matter. They also requested the Government of Saskatchewan assign an independent observer.

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