Police issue public warning
Yellowknife RCMP are asking residents to help locate 22-year-old Gaige Forrest, who is wanted on a warrant for allegedly being unlawfully at large. Police are advising anyone who sees him not to approach or attempt to detain him, and instead to contact authorities.
The request was issued in a police release that identifies Forrest as being from Yellowknife. The release does not explain how he came to be unlawfully at large, but says the warrant relates to section 145(1) of the Criminal Code. That provision applies to people who escape lawful custody or remain at large without a lawful excuse before their sentence has ended.
“The public is asked not to approach Gaige Forrest if he is sighted.”
Residents with information about Forrest’s whereabouts can call the Yellowknife RCMP at 867-669-1111. Information can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Stoppers at p3tips.com. The warning is a reminder that information about a wanted person should be passed to police rather than handled directly by members of the public.
Previous arrest involved Canada-wide warrant
According to the release, RCMP officers arrested Forrest on the evening of March 10, after he was seen getting into a taxi. Police said that arrest followed a Canada-wide warrant issued after Forrest was wanted for a parole violation. He was then held for a bail hearing and remanded into custody.
During the March arrest, police reported seizing approximately 24 grams of suspected crack cocaine, prescription medication and about $820 in cash. The wording in the release describes the substance as suspected, rather than confirming a court finding about it.
| Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Gaige Forrest |
| Age | 22 |
| Height and weight | About 175 centimetres and 50 kilograms |
| Appearance | Brown hair and brown eyes |
| Police contact | 867-669-1111 |
Details of earlier sentence
The RCMP release says Forrest had previously been released from custody after receiving a sentence connected to several violent, firearms-related offences, including a shooting in Hay River. It does not provide the sentence length, the conditions of his release or further information about the Hay River case.
The release also says Forrest’s current status as unlawfully at large is unclear. That distinction matters in a case involving both a police search and ongoing court processes: the warrant is an authorization for police to arrest him, while the allegations and previous criminal matters remain subject to the justice system. No additional details about a new court date were provided.
What Yellowknife residents can do
- Do not approach Forrest or try to stop him.
- Call Yellowknife RCMP at 867-669-1111 with information about his whereabouts.
- Use Crime Stoppers at p3tips.com to provide information anonymously.
Forrest is described as approximately 175 centimetres tall and weighing about 50 kilograms, with brown hair and brown eyes. Police have released his photograph as part of the appeal. The RCMP release does not identify any Indigenous affiliation or provide information from Indigenous governments, families or community organizations. No such details should be inferred from the police notice.
