Police still haven’t been able to get their hands on a man who is proving to be a slippery character.

Tony Farrell continues to evade the RCMP following a search in the area of Goose Cove near North Harbour, Placentia Bay last night.

Just after 8:30, police announced that they were in the town searching for Farrell, a man who they believe is armed.

Local resident Merv Wiseman wonders why a public alert didn’t go out since the man is considered armed and dangerous. He told VOCM Open Line with Tim Powers that he has had run-ins with people trying to escape law enforcement in the past.

A person who had robbed a general store ended up on his farm and stole his truck. He was apprehended a few hours later. Six months after that, three people who had robbed the post office in Swift Current bailed out of their car on the highway sand ended up at Wiseman’s fur farm. RCMP caught up with them shortly after the robbers had finished changing their clothes.

RCMP Director of Strategic Communications Glenda Power says they are using multiple channels to communicate information about the situation—such as their website, social media, and other media outlets such as VOCM.

Use of the alert ready system, she explains, can only be done when there is an imminent and credible threat to public safety.

For the situation in Goose Cove, she explains they were following up on a tip that Farrell may be in a home in the town.

She says it would be an inappropriate use of alert ready to request one be issued every time they follow up on new information, noting that it could get to the point where people start ignoring the messages. That’s why it is important to stay tuned to the other channels they use.