UPDATE: Kamloops RCMP Sergeant Darren Michels says the missing girl has been found and is safe.
Police aren’t commenting on possible charges at this time as the investigation is ongoing.
EARLIER:
KAMLOOPS — The Independent Investigations Office of BC is monitoring a situation in Kamloops that began early Thursday morning.
A teenage girl is missing, after escaping police custody and entering the Thompson River.
Police actions are now under the microscope while searchers scour the river for answers to what happened to the girl.
WATCH: Full report by Jill Sperling
It was a report of a stolen bicycle that brought Kamloops RCMP to a North Shore neighbourhood at 2 a.m.
“A police investigation led to the recovery of the bicycle,” said Cpl. Jodi Shelkie of the Kamloops RCMP. “Continued efforts by an RCMP police dog located a girl believed to be associated to the theft under a dock at the river bank that parallels Royal Avenue.”
The girl was arrested by the attending officers, but the police incident wouldn’t end there.
“During the arrest the girl escaped custody from police and entered the river prior to being placed in handcuffs,” Shelkie said.
Suddenly the girl was gone.
Kamloops Fire Rescue used a thermal imaging camera to search the waters, and other agencies were called in to search well into the daylight hours.
“Kamloops RCMP are continuing to search for the teenage girl with support from the Police Dog Service, RCMP Air Services, and members of the Kamloops Search and Rescue,” Shelkie said.
The IIO BC is now looking into the incident. They will be scrutinizing the actions of the attending officers to determine whether an offence was committed.
Anyone who has information about the incident, or the girl’s whereabouts is encouraged to call the Kamloops RCMP at 250-828-3000.
