Hunt for escaped inmates turns to Alberta

A sign marks the perimeter of the Regina Correctional Centre on Monday Aug. 25, 2008. (Troy Fleece / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

Four inmates who escaped from a Regina jail may be hiding in northeastern Alberta reserve, CTV News has learned.

Elk Point RCMP confirm officers from several detachments have descended upon the Frog Lake First Nation in hopes of finding the escaped men.

Investigators say they are acting on a tip that all four may be on the reserve.

An RCMP spokesman says they are investigating the possibility the inmates may be there, but won't confirm any other details.

A helicopter is searching the area.

Six inmates escaped from the Regina Provincial Correction Centre Aug. 24, but one of the men was captured within hours. Another was captured after six days of freedom.

Four men are still free and are considered dangerous.

Staff at a provincial courthouse in Regina confirmed to The Canadian Press that three of the men are charged with murder and another is charged with aggravated assault. Hickie also said some of the inmates are facing murder charges.

The missing inmates have been identified as:

One of the inmates cannot be named as he had been charged under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

An RCMP officer on scene of the search confirmed to a CTV News reporter that two of the inmates had been caught. Twenty minutes after receiving this initial confirmation, Regina RCMP issued a statement, denying any of the men had been caught.

RCMP Cpl. Wayne Oakes confirmed late Wednesday afternoon that none of the men had been arrested.

Wolfe was charged earlier this year with two counts of first-degree murder and three counts of attempted murder in relation to a violent home invasion.

He is one of founders of the Indian Posse street gang -- an aboriginal gang based out of Winnipeg.

Police released photos of the escaped men but said the prisoners may have made attempts to disguise their appearance. They have also issued Canada-wide warrants for the escapees.

The Regina correction centre was placed under lockdown but no injuries were reported in the escape. Police have not said how the men managed to free themselves.

The old 1913 building had been compared to Alcatraz, with crumbling concrete, a sagging foundation, and problems with mould and cockroaches.

The men escaped from a newer part of the facility, which was built in the 1960s.