The self-proclaimed “Queen of Canada” and one other face charges following an investigation in Richmound, Sask. that saw 16 people taken into custody. Officers said they first executed a search warrant in the southwestern Saskatchewan community at a privately-owned former school where Romana Didulo and her followers had taken up residence around 4:30 a.m. Wednesday, after a report of an individual with a firearm. RCMP say officers arrested 16 people, including Didulo, and found four imitation handguns during a preliminary investigation. Further investigation led to the discovery and seizure of 13 imitation semi-automatic handguns, ammunition, as well as a large number of electronic handguns, according to an update from RCMP on Thursday. The 16 individuals were released from police custody, with five people subject to an undertaking. RCMP say a man and a woman were rearrested as the two breached a condition that they do not contact one another. In a Thursday evening update from RCMP, the identity of the woman was confirmed to be Didulo, 50, who now faces one count of failure to comply with undertaking conditions and one count of intimidation of a justice system participant. Ricky Manz, 61, is charged with one count of failure to comply with a release order condition, one count of intimidation of a justice system participant, and one count of failure to comply with undertaking condition. Didulo and Manz were arrested on Thursday near the decommissioned school that was subject to the search warrant. Both of the accused are scheduled to appear in Swift Current Provincial Court on Friday morning. RCMP say the investigation continues. Manz, the owner of the former school in Richmound, was previously charged with assault, resisting arrest, and uttering threats. Earlier this month, the village office closed its doors to the public, citing harassment and intimidation towards staff. Didulo rose to prominence in the wave of alt subcultures that emerged during the protests against the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to taking up residence in Richmound, Didulo and her followers were forced out of Kamsack, Sask., on Sept. 13, 2023. Richmound, Sask., is located north of Maple Creek near the Alberta border — about 445 kilometres west of Regina. -With files from The Canadian Press and Rory MacLean
