Nathan Watson, the embattled former mayor of Norman Wells - one of two ex-public servants at the centre of a $1.25 million lawsuit launched by the town - is still a wanted man in the Northwest Territories after a recent run in with the law south of the border.
In Edmonton on June 5, Watson was arrested and released on a promise to appear in court, Cheryl Voordenhout, a spokesperson for Edmonton Police Services, told News/North Wednesday. Voordenhout said the arrest was “unrelated to the matter RCMP was dealing with.”
In May, Watson was due to appear in a Yellowknife court to be sentenced on a drug possession charge - Norman RCMP found just over three grams of cocaine in his coat pocket following a traffic stop in October 2017 - but he failed to appear.
Territorial judge Garth Malakoe issued an arrest warrant following the no-show.
The warrant for his arrest remains active, NWT RCMP spokesperson Julie Plourde confirmed to News/North Thursday.
On the same day Watson failed to appear in court to be sentenced for his drug conviction, lawyers representing the Town of Norman Wells were waiting to serve the ex-mayor with notice of the lawsuit, which alleges fraud.
The lawsuit, filed against Watson, former senior administrative officer Catherine Mallon and Watson’s numbered company, alleges Mallon inappropriately used the town’s assets for her own personal use, pilfering over $1.25 million. Watson is alleged to have “participated in Mallon’s fraudulent scheme,” Norman Wells Mayor Frank Pope told News/North last month.
Watson is due to appear in an Edmonton court next month. It’s unclear what, if any, charges he faces.
Updates to follow.