HALIFAX – The body of a Truro police officer who lives in Dartmouth has been found.
Halifax Regional Police said a body was discovered in a wooded area east of Barrington Street at North Street near an overpass that leads to the Macdonald Bridge at about 12:10 am today. Just over an hour later, at 1:20 am, police said a Halifax man was taken into custody. No charges have been laid. Police said they are not looking for other suspects at this time.
At a news conference this morning, Supt. Jim Perrin of Halifax Regional Police confirmed they are now treating the case as a homicide investigation, and believed yesterday afternoon that the case would not have a positive outcome.
WATCH: Halifax Regional Police confirmed Wednesday morning that the remains of Officer Catherine Campbell – from the Truro Police Service – have been found and a suspect has been arrested. Marieke Walsh reports.
Police said they believe the man and Catherine Campbell knew each other, but they are not sure for how long or what the details of the relationship might have been. “The individual we have in custody has limited police involvement,” said Perrin. “I’m not going to get into the actual, individual things that the person we have in custody was involved with. There is some limited police involvement but nothing substantial.”
Thirty-six year old Catherine Campbell was reported missing on Monday when she didn’t show up to work at the Truro Police Service.
Perrin said Campbell was last seen at a bar in downtown Halifax early Friday morning, and and she had not been heard from since then. He would not identify the bar.
Perrin said the man currently being questioned was arrested in a car, which has been seized. Police are also searching two homes in Halifax as part of the investigation – one on Chadwick Place in Clayton Park and McCully Street in Halifax.
The apartment where Catherine Campbell lived in Dartmouth has already been searched.
WATCH: Police confirmed the body’s discovery Wednesday
Catherine’s disappearance is now a homicide investigation, said police. A 27-year-old male suspect is being questioned by police. He was arrested in Clayton Park at 1:20 a.m. Wednesday.
Catherine was a Constable with the Truro Police Service for close to six years. She moved to Dartmouth’s Albro Lake area more than three months ago.
The Truro Police service is assisting Halifax Regional Police in its investigation. Truro Police Chief David MacNeil said he personally delivered the news of her death to Campbell’s family.
“The Truro Police Service is devastated given the tragic passing of Cst. Catherine Campbell,” said Chief David MacNeil in a statement posted on Facebook. “No words can express how deeply this loss is impacting our service.”
“Catherine was a phenomenal person and an outstanding police officer who proudly served our community since 2009. Her loss is felt by the entire community, and we thank you all for your support and kind words,” said MacNeil.
WATCH: ‘Extremely difficult time for our community’: Truro Police Chief David MacNeil
On Tuesday her mother, Susan Campbell, described Catherine as “very outgoing and friendly.”
Catherine was the middle of three children in the Campbell family. Before becoming a police officer, her father, Dwight Campbell, said she volunteered with the Stellarton fire department for ten years.
The homicide investigation is ongoing, anyone with information is asked to contact Halifax Regional Police at 902-490-5016, or Crime Stoppers.
Truro Police Service is holding a press conference at noon.
With files from Canadian Press
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