RICHMOUND – A 61-year-old Richmound man with ties to a controversial group faces multiple criminal charges following a confrontation with police.
On July 18, Leader RCMP were called to assist municipal personnel at a property in the village when an altercation broke out. Ricky Manz was arrested after allegedly assaulting officers and resisting arrest.
Manz, who owns the abandoned school taken over by self-proclaimed “Queen of Canada” Romana Didulo and her followers, has been charged with two counts of assault of a police officer, assault, resisting arrest, mischief, and uttering threats. Additionally, he has been charged under the Saskatchewan Municipalities Act of obstruct or interfere with an employee or agency of a municipality.
Manz is scheduled to appear in Leader Circuit Court on Sept. 18.
A video posted to social media shows RCMP officers attempting to enter a locked compound, with a man refusing entry. An officer climbs over a steel fence to open the gate for a second officer, leading to a physical confrontation. SaskToday has chosen not to publish the portion of the video depicting the confrontation.
WATCH: RCMP officer climbs over fence to enter compound
On July 15, the Village of Richmound announced its office would be operating by appointment only, citing ongoing harassment and intimidation of staff. A resolution passed by council cited obligations under the Saskatchewan Occupational Health & Safety OH&S and Employment Standards Acts, which require employers to provide a safe and respectful working environment for all employees.
Hours later, the village disabled social media comments, saying it was necessary due to “ongoing incivility and disrespectful tone in comments on our social media posts.”
Didulo, a QAnon conspiracy leader from the Philippines, and her supporters moved into the abandoned school in September 2023 after being pushed out of Kamsack. Village of Richmound residents held protests when the group arrived.
Their presence has divided the community of approximately 147 residents, with residents saying their children no longer feel safe using a nearby playground.
Tensions escalated when Didulo’s group allegedly issued death threats against village officials, emergency responders, and journalists. The RCMP were forwarded emails and social media posts warning of “publicly broadcast executions” for those who failed to “cease and desist.”
In October 2023, RCMP set up a 24/7 temporary mobile detachment in Richmound following reports of assaults, threats, and suspicious activity.
