RCMP urge calm online over reports of attempted abduction

Okotoks RCMP are calling for calm online after social media reports of an attempted abduction of a boy in town.

Reports began swirling on Facebook over the weekend of an attempted abduction of a 12-year-old boy in town.

RCMP Cpl. Sharon Franks would not confirm whether the report is true. However, she said RCMP will not hesitate to release information people need to know in the event of an immediate risk to public safety.

“What I can tell you is that when we have information to release to the public we will,” she said. “If we feel that there is a public safety risk we would put it out there.”

Franks said police don't want to raise any unnecessary alarm in the community.

She said the RCMP won't comment on rumours on social media.

“I cannot put out a release or make a comment based on a bunch of rumours going around, and that's basically what we have is a bunch of people making innuendos and assumptions based on no facts whatsoever,” she said.

One Facebook post includes a description of a tall, thin white male in a vehicle with one or two other men who allegedly attempted to abduct a 12-year-old boy. Comments on one post state the incident was reported to RCMP and has been verified by the boy's mother. Other comments include suggestions the boy was chased, while another suggests the involvement of a “gang” with people wearing hoodies with an X on the back.

Franks said she has seen some of the comments on social media and urged people not to overreact.

Franks said it's possible some of the online discussion is being fed by a Jan. 27 incident where a girl was chased by a suspicious man in north Okotoks.

In that case, she said the RCMP immediately issued a press release. According to police, an eight-year-old girl was walking on a pathway near Crystal Shores Drive around 8:30 a.m. when a man began to chase her. The girl weaved between vehicles and ran to the home of a family friend, at which time the man stopped the chase.

Franks said police are continuing to investigate this case. The suspect is described as in his 20s, Caucasian with pale skin and wearing a black bandana on his lower face and a dark green zippered sweatshirt with the hood pulled down. The sweater had a large black “X” on the back.

Ultimately, Franks assured residents the RCMP would notify the community of any threat to the public.

“Obviously, if we feel that there is someone in danger we're going to notify the public, and we don't feel that at this point,” she said.