UPDATE:

Saskatchewan RCMP Major Crime Unit North, with assistance from the North Battleford RCMP, have made an official arrest in relation to Sunday's recent Amber Alert.

Multiple hours of video surveillance from 200 businesses were used in this investigation, and managed to track down the stolen vehicle that was being used in the crime.

19-year-old Johnathan Ryann Gunville of North Battleford has been charged with the following:

  • Abduction of a person under 14, Section 281 of the Criminal Code

  • Unlawful confinement, Section 279(2) of the Criminal Code

  • Abandoning a child, Section 218 of the Criminal Code

  • Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, Section 249(1)(a) of the Criminal Code x2

  • Theft of a motor vehicle, Section 333.1 of the Criminal Code

  • Possession of property obtained by crime over $5000, Section 355(a) of the Criminal Code

  • Evade a police officer, Section 249.1 of the Criminal Code

  • Drive while disqualified, Section 259(4)(a) of the Criminal Code x2

  • Fail to comply with a probation order, Section 733.1(1) of the Criminal Code x8

Gunville has been remanded into custody and is scheduled to appear in North Battleford Provincial Court on Monday, September 24th, at 9:30am.

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This morning at approximately 6:45 am, members of the North Battleford Detachment received information from workers in a remote, industrial area within the city limits, of a vehicle parked off a paved road in some bushes. The vehicle matched the description of the missing vehicle in the Amber Alert.

Members attended to the area with EMS personnel and located the subject of the Amber Alert inside the vehicle.

The child was located conscious and taken to hospital to be examined and reunited with her family. She has since been discharged from hospital.

The vehicle was located and reported to police in response to the Amber Alert. It is not known at this time how long the vehicle was in the area before it was located or where else it may have travelled.

We currently do not have any suspects in custody, however this investigation remains ongoing with assistance from Major Crime - North, North Battleford GIS and Forensic Identification Sections.

 

The Amber Alert issued last night has been cancelled. The subject of the alert was located safe within the City of North Battleford. The child was found at approximately 6:45 a.m. and is being provided with medical attention at this time. Saskatchewan RCMP wish to thank the public and the media for their assistance in this matter.

Further updates will be provided as they become available later this morning.

 

Saskatchewan RCMP investigators continued the search for 6-year-old Emma O’Keeffe this morning with the Amber Alert relating to her abduction remains in effect and had been extended into Manitoba and Alberta.

Emma was secured in her car seat when the 2010 Mercedes GL350 SUV with Saskatchewan license plate 897 HMX she was in was stolen from in front of a strip mall on 11204 Railway AVE in North Battleford. The SUV was parked at the strip mall running when it was stolen. The identity of the suspect remains unknown and the stolen vehicle has not been located. Investigators have confirmed this is not a case of parental abduction.

Investigators were extremely concerned for Emma’s safety. Emma is autistic and does not speak. She has epilepsy and requires assistance to exit a vehicle on her own.

Immediately after the abduction was reported, RCMP officers from the surrounding areas began immediate patrols and information was shared with investigators across the province and in neighbouring jurisdictions. Highly trained investigators have been deployed to the North Battleford’s area and the RCMP Major Crime Unit is leading the investigation.

Investigators continue to ask gas stations across western Canada to be on the lookout for the stolen SUV. This vehicle requires diesel fuel and may attempt to stop to fill up with more fuel. Investigators have confirmed the stolen vehicle does not have any GPS capability. Call 911 immediately if you see, or think you have seen, the vehicle.

Saskatchewan RCMP

639-625-3605

From Sunday Night:

North Battleford RCMP  have activated the AMBER ALERT system.

The victim is:

Emma O’Keeffe, a 6-year-old female. She is Caucasian, 3 feet, 6 inches tall, weighs 44 lbs. She has brown, jaw-length hair. She was last seen wearing a navy-blue, long sleeve t-shirt, black jeans, pink socks, no shoes, wearing a diaper.

Emma suffers from epilepsy and autism. She is non-verbal and unable to walk.

Police believe the child was taken by:

At this time, police have no description of the suspect.

The abduction is believed to have occurred outside a strip mall at 11204 Railway Ave. North Battleford, Saskatchewan

The suspect is believed to be driving a dark grey 2010, Mercedes Benz GL350 Bluetec SUV with Saskatchewan license plate 897 HMX. The direction of travel is unknown at this time.