A post incident investigation by the RCMP 'found an entirely different story.
In December, native trappers complained to the local RCMP detachment in Aklavik that 'Johnson' was tampering with their traps, tripping them and hanging them on the trees. At that time many northern native traditional trapping areas were being invaded by outsiders fleeing the Great Depression and some complaints may have been intended to remove him. Johnson had not acquired a trapping license, which was considered odd for someone living in the bush. After venturing the waterways in an indigenous-built raft to the Mackenzie River delta, he built a small 8 ft × 10 ft (2.4 m × 3.0 m) cabin on the banks of the Rat River. Millen thought he had a Scandinavian accent, generally kept himself clean-shaven, and seemed to have plenty of money for supplies.
He was questioned by RCMP constable Edgar Millen, but provided little information.
Albert Johnson arrived in Fort McPherson after coming down the Peel River on July 9, 1931.
