Arrest made in alleged Saskatoon abduction

Note: This story has been updated to remove the name of the abduction victim due to a publication ban.

SASKATOON – Police have a man in custody after a woman was allegedly abducted in Saskatoon last week.

Saskatoon police say Clinton McLaughlin, 36, was located just after midnight Monday by a passing motorist on a rural road. He is being treated in hospital for non-life threatening injuries.

McLaughlin was wanted after a Saskatoon woman allegedly abducted on Friday.

She was found around 9:00 p.m. Sunday evening by a passing motorist after escaping from McLaughlin.

She was able to call her family on a cell phone and police located her at an east-side location in the city. She was taken to hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries.

“She successfully escaped from this situation which was very violent,” said police spokesperson Alyson Edwards.

Edwards confirmed the woman and McLaughlin had no food or water since Friday and had been sleeping outside.

Both were in a weakened state.

“The fact that she successfully escaped speaks to her strength,’ said Edwards.

Her family told Global News on Monday morning they were relieved she was found.

McLaughlin is facing charges of aggravated assault, kidnapping, unlawful confinement and breach of recognizance. He has been released from hospital and is expected to appear in provincial court on Tuesday.

The investigation continues and police say further charges may be laid.

Saskatoon police first responded to a possible abduction around 4 p.m. on Friday. Police interviewed numerous people but were unable to confirm an abduction had taken place.

Additional information received later that afternoon, including the identities of the victim and suspect, led investigators to believe an abduction had taken place.

There were concerns for her safety and it was believed McLaughlin was armed and dangerous.

A vehicle believed to have been used in the alleged abduction was located Sunday in a rural field east of Saskatoon. A ground search was undertaken to look for the woman and McLaughlin.