Police nab fugitive

IQALUIT — A Pangnirtung fugitive has been sentenced to eight months in jail after pleading guilty to 15 separate offences.

Joelie Okalik, 44, was convicted on charges including breaking and entering, resisting arrest, forgery, possession of stolen property, and breaching of court orders.

Okalik was on lam for two months before Pangnirtung cops collared him last week.
Okalik had been in hiding since June 7, when he led police on a several-mile foot chase through the community before escaping out onto the sea ice. He had been wanted on charges of forgery and possession of stolen property from the local co-op store.

Three days later, RCMP received a complaint of a stolen tent and camping gear. Officers believe Okalik took the equipment and used it to hide out on the land.

Several tips over the course of the summer led to his arrest on Aug. 8.

In addition to his jail time, Okalik was ordered to pay a fine of $436.24.

Okalik is the older brother of Paul Okalik, Nunavut’s premier.