WESTLOCK – A 30-year-old man facing an attempted murder charge in connection to a stabbing north of Westlock last week has criminal charges before the court stemming from prior incidents.
Tanner William Nelson didn’t appear in Westlock Court of Justice Aug. 28. Instead, defence lawyer Richard Forbes, acting as duty counsel, told the court Wednesday morning that Nelson had requested a two-week adjournment to give him time to obtain counsel. Late in the afternoon, defence lawyer Gary Smith appeared by CCTV and told the court that he had just been retained to represent Nelson.
According to court records, before the stabbing occurred, Nelson was already facing multiple charges including possession of stolen property valued at over $5,000, mischief or damage to property under $5,000, and two charges of failing to appear in court.
His new charge of attempted murder stems from an incident on Aug. 23 when Westlock RCMP were dispatched to a report of a stabbing at a home located off Highway 44 near Township Road 603. Upon arrival, officers found an adult victim with stab wounds who required medical attention.
The suspect, identified as Nelson, reportedly fled the scene and hid in a wooded area in Westlock County. In response, Barrhead RCMP, Morinville RCMP, the Emergency Response Team, and Police Dog Services helped Westlock RCMP in the search.
He was arrested hours later around 7 p.m. without incident. During the search, an Alberta Emergency Alert was issued, advising residents in the Westlock County area to avoid opening their doors to strangers and not pick up hitchhikers.
Nelson remains in custody and is back in court Sept. 11.
