Police say they have nabbed a suspect in B.C. who was wanted in connection with charges of sexual assault, unlawful confinement and assault causing bodily harm, which stemmed from an incident in Toronto more than a decade ago.
RCMP said they arrested Edward Melvin Ellis, 51, on Saturday. Police issued a warrant for his arrest in 1999.
The man arrested was going by the name James Ellis and was living in an orchard house in a rural area near Penticton, B.C.
“He had assumed a different identity and a different name,” said RCMP Cpl. Dan Moskaluk.
RCMP said they made the arrest after a tip in April from Toronto police, who said that the suspect might be in the area.
“Mr. Ellis was co-operative and conceded to our officers that, in fact, he had been looking over his shoulder for the last 13 years, wondering if and when police would show up," said Moskaluk.
Residents said Ellis ran a bead shop in town, called Knot Just Beads.
They also noted that he always paid in cash, didn’t drive and didn’t carry identification.
"Well, he was a good customer, polite, kind,” said Colin McGee, owner of McGee’s Tobacco.
McGee said he often saw Ellis with his young son.
Some neighbours were shocked at the arrest, describing their neighbour has a good person who was always willing to help out.
With a report from CTV British Columbia’s Kent Molgat
