Chilliwack RCMP say charges have been laid against a man who allegedly attempted to abduct a child from an elementary school.
The attempt was made on the morning of May 13, at Chilliwack Central Elementary School. At 9:09 a.m., they were informed that a man had allegedly tried to remove a seven-year-old girl from the school property.
In a press release the following day, they explain “a concerned citizen intervened and brought the child back to the school.”
The girl was uninjured.
A man matching the description given to police was located nearby, and police were able to arrest him and take him into custody.
They report that Joel McGillis has been charged with kidnapping a person under 16 years of age. His next court appearance is scheduled for May 15.
McGillis and the child are not known to one another, and police believe this to be an isolated incident.
Now, police are asking any witnesses to come forward. This includes people who may have been in the area between the school and the 46000 block of Margaret Avenue, between 8:30 a.m. and 9:15 a.m.
And there is an interesting detail they are asking about, specifically.
“If anyone observed an individual wearing a purple bunny-like mask, please contact the Chilliwack RCMP as you might have information that could assist the investigation,” said Supt. Darren Pankratz, officer in charge of the Chilliwack RCMP.
“Chilliwack RCMP is taking this incident extremely seriously. The safety of children in our community is a key priority, and we recognize how concerning this type of event is for families,” he said. “We are working closely with the school district as this investigation continues, and we thank the members of the public who assisted in ensuring the child’s safety and helping police quickly locate and arrest the suspect.”