Two of three people arrested after five suspicious envelopes were dropped off at numerous businesses across Saskatoon have been released without charges.
Saskatoon police say a man and woman were hired by the third person, identified in court Wednesday as Alexa Emerson, to deliver one package at each of the five locations.
The two were not aware of the contents.
“Investigators have concluded that these two individuals were unaware of the contents of the envelopes,” police said in a media release.
The pair was arrested after five envelopes containing what were then unknown substances were dropped off Tuesday at five locations in the city. The packages prompted a large-scale emergency response and led police to shut down numerous blocks and areas in Saskatoon.
The substances in four of the five packages were later confirmed to be baking soda, while the substance in the fifth envelope was talcum powder, emergency crews confirmed late Tuesday evening.
Emerson, who is also known as Amanda Totchek, was already in police custody while the packages were being delivered. She had turned herself in to police Tuesday morning in connection to charges from an October incident, her lawyer Brian Pfefferle said.
According to a court document, Emerson sent videos, depicting herself being bound, assaulted and threatened, to a number of people. The videos were intended to mislead a police officer into suspecting a man of committing a crime he did not commit, the documents state.
She appeared in court Wednesday morning to face those charges, which include public mischief, harassment and providing false information.
“It’s a really complicated situation, domestic in nature,” Pfefferle told reporters outside Saskatoon Provincial Court. “These sorts of things, like all spousal-type relationships, have their own weird dynamics and I think unfortunately this is one that has led to some charges for my client.”
The alleged incidents aren’t the first time the 31-year-old Emerson has been charged. In 2015, then going by Totchek, she pleaded guilty to five offences, including harassment and uttering threats.
Court documents show the harassment lasted over a two-year period. The charges stemmed from her impersonating her ex-boyfriend by signing his name on sexually explicit and threatening letters and emails, according to the documents. An agreed statement of facts in the case states she pleaded guilty to sending some of the letters and emails, and says she didn’t act alone.
She was handed a time-served sentence and probation after the guilty plea.
Emerson has yet to appear in court to face 15 new charges — which include public mischief, mischief and uttering threats to cause bodily harm — in relation to the suspicious packages.
Pferrle said he will be arguing for her to be released on bail.
“At this stage she's certainly denying any wrongdoing, denying any involvement in a very serious incident,” he said.
Over 60 emergency workers responded to the suspicious package reports Tuesday, according to the Saskatoon Fire Department. Hazmat teams, a decontamination unit and environment ministry workers were all sent to the scenes.
The first report came in just before 12:30 p.m. from Cut Casual Steak and Tap. The next four calls sent emergency crews to the Saskatoon Square building downtown, the Sandman Hotel on Circle Drive North, the Country Inn and Suites on Cynthia Street and an office building on Fourth Avenue South.
No one was injured.
Emerson’s first court appearance in relation to the suspicious package charges is scheduled for Thursday morning, according to Pfefferle.
