Primrose Hideout

From the Halifax Police:
Wanted Man Arrested
January 22, 2010
Wanted Man Arrested by Police

Police have arrested a man wanted on a parole warrant.

Forty-two-year-old Joseph Jacko Obed was staying at a halfway house in Halifax. A warrant for his arrest was issued after he signed out of the halfway house and failed to return on Monday. As a result of information received, East Division Community Response Officers arrested him without incident today at 1:30 p.m. at a apartment on Primrose Street in Dartmouth. Charges are anticipated in this matter and the investigation is ongoing.

Halifax Regional Police would like to thank the public to their help in locating this individual.

From the Chronicle Herald:
Violent sex offender back in custody

By KELLY SHIERS Staff Reporter
Fri. Jan 22 - 3:15 PM

A violent sex offender who disappeared from a Halifax halfway house this week is back behind bars, thanks to help from a tipster.

Joseph Jacko Obed was arrested without incident Friday afternoon at an apartment on Primrose Street in Dartmouth, said Halifax Regional Police Const. Brian Palmeter.

“We received a tip and that led to an arrest,” he said.

Police asked for the public’s help after the 42-year-old, who is considered a high risk to reoffend, disappeared from a Gottingen Street halfway house on Monday.

Police say he signed out of the house and failed to return.

Mr. Obed, who is originally from Newfoundland and Labrador, had been ordered to stay at the house as part of a two-year sentence for four counts of break and enter and failing to abide by the national sex offender registry

His record shows he served four federal prison terms and three in provincial jails. His convictions include sexual assault, assault, weapons offences, drug possession and unlawful escape.

According to National Parole Board documents, the sexual offences are believed to have taken place in Newfoundland. The victims included strangers, acquaintances and family members. The documents also indicate he was once involved in an armed, five-hour standoff with police and shot at an officer.

A warrant for his arrest was issued Tuesday and police released two photographs of Mr. Obed which generated a number of phone calls from the public.

Const. Palmeter said the investigation continues and charges are expected to be laid against Mr. Obed in connection with his leaving the halfway house.

He said Mr. Obed will likely be sent to the Central Nova Scotia Correctional Facility in Burnside. It will be up to Correction Services Canada officials to decide where he will go from there.

In September, Mr. Obed was released to the halfway house without leave privileges and left within hours.

A warrant was issued for his arrest at that time, and when he turned up at the house the next day, he was sent back to prison. He was allowed to return to the halfway house in December.

Approximate Scene of the Arrest:

View Larger Map