'A team effort': RCMP credit Yellowknifers in Denecho King arrest

Yellowknife RCMP are crediting the public for helping officers locate escaped inmate, Denecho King.

Kingescaped from the North Slave Correctional Centre Wednesday morning promptingpolice to warn the public that he was dangerousand they should not approach.

"I very much appreciate the diligence and the vigilance of the citizens on Yellowknife that called in the tips, that were looking out for him, and looking out for their safety," said Inspector Matt Peggs Monday morning on CBC Radio's The Trailbreaker.

According to Peggs, police received "consistent tips" each of the three days officers spent searching for King.

"It was a large team effort.

"We're very pleased we were able to bring that to a successful completion. You know, arrest without incident," said Peggs.

Yellowknife RCMP arrested King,after surrounding a residence in Sissons Court off Taylor Road Saturday morning, delivering instructions to Denecho King through a megaphone.

King, 23, wascalm and shirtless when he emerged and was escorted bytwo officers intoa waiting police truck.

Peggs wouldn't say why King was hiding out at that particular residence, or how long he had been there.

"We're still kind of piecing together and trying to figure these things out. Obviously he spent the three days in a lot of different locations as we were all over the place... trying to locate him."

Peggsalso couldn't say, "at this time," whether anyone other than King would face charges.

"We will determine [that] further into the investigation," he said.

2nd degree murder, attempted murder

King is charged with second-degree murder in the death of John Wifladt and with the attempted murder of Colin Digness in December 2014.

The two men were found seriously injured in an apartment on the third floor of Sunridge Place on Yellowknife's 51 Avenue. Wifladt died later in hospital. Digness was medevaced to Edmonton for treatment.

King was charged five months later.

• FROM MAY 2015 | Denecho King charged with murder, attempted murder in Sunridge attacks

King now faces additional charges of being unlawfully at large.

As of Saturday afternoon, King was in RCMP custody in downtown Yellowknife, set to be transferred back to the North Slave Correctional Centre.

It's unclear if King will be under special remand due to his escape.

First to escape from new jail

King's was the first escape from the North Slave Correctional Centre since it was built in 2004, according to the Department of Justice.

The department said lastweek they know what area King escaped from, and have restricted other inmates from the area, though they have not released any details on where exactly it is.

The department said it plans to do a "full critical incident review... to determine the circumstances and improvements required" to make sure something like this doesn't happen again.