Murder victim Colton Crowshoe’s family upset by police investigation

UPDATE: On Tuesday, Calgary police release a statement over allegations of police misconduct. Read the complete statement below.

CALGARY- The family of a murdered 18-year-old is expressing disappointment about the initial investigation into his disappearance.

Late Friday, police confirmed that Colton Crowshoe was found dead in a northeast Calgary pond. He had been missing for three weeks, after leaving a friend’s house in the Abbeydale area.

An investigation is now underway to track down whoever is responsible for his death, but Crowshoe’s family is upset with how the case was handled from the beginning.

“Right away he was stereotyped as a runway, he doesn’t want to be found,” says aunt Danielle Crowshoe. “But they don’t know us, and Colton was always respectful of his father. He would never allow him to worry and never disappear without someone knowing where he was.”

She says it’s a case of racial profiling.

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“There is a lot of anger, not just from us but that includes non-native people.”

However, police maintain they followed protocol.

“The very old, the very young, those are the ones we have a strong focus on,” explains Sgt. John Hebert from the Calgary Police Service. “Those who have ability to care for themselves, they get reduced in priority.

“You have to understand being missing is not a crime.”

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On Tuesday, Calgary police release a statement over allegations of police misconduct:

“Our deepest condolences go out to the entire Crowshoe family, but we will not address or comment on these allegations through the media or in a public forum. Our focus remains on the homicide investigation and in bringing the person(s) responsible for Colton’s death to justice.

Should any member of the public have a concern or complaint relating to the actions of any member of the Calgary Police Service, a formal process exists to do so, and those matters will be investigated under the provisions outlined in the Alberta Police Act.”

Funeral arrangements for Crowshoe are now underway. The cause of death has not yet been released.

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