The 14-year-old Cape Breton girl that was reported missing a week ago has been found safe.
Darcy Doyle, the 47-year-old that police believed she was travelling with, has been taken into custody.
The 14-year-old, a resident of We’koqma’q First Nation, was reported missing after last being seen on Aug. 13 in Eskasoni, N.S.
At approximately 11:30 p.m., on Friday, RCMP Air Services reported a fire in an isolated location in the area of Canoe Lake, N.S.
Police officers made their way to the area and at 1 a.m., located the youth and the man she was with.
Both were taken into custody without incident and transported out of the wooded area.
The 14-year-old has been released while the man remains in custody.
Get daily National news
Cpl. Lisa Croteau, a spokesperson for the force, said no charges had been laid as of Saturday morning.
“It’s still too early, the investigation is ongoing. Once we are able to speak to people and get more information, we will advise if charges are laid,” she said.
READ MORE: Search continues for missing 14-year-old
The RCMP have faced criticism since the 14-year-old’s disappearance. The We’koqma’q First Nation had been calling for an Amber Alert to be issued by police.
The We’kogma’q band council had offered a $5,000 reward for information that would help find the missing 14-year-old
However, RCMP had refused to put out an Amber Alert saying her case didn’t meet the criteria of an abduction.
“For us to be able to say the person was abducted, they have to be under the age of 14, it does not matter on consent. Between the ages of 14 and 16, we have to prove the person went unwillingly,” Croteau told Global News on Thursday. “We don’t believe that is the case in this situation.”
An emergency alert was issued on Thursday, with the alert being sent to communities east of the Mira River in Cape Breton, according to police.
The Native Women’s Association of Canada said police did not act with enough urgency to find her.
The association said the girl appeared to be in danger. We’koqma’q First Nation councillors had expelled the man from the community, the association said, because he posed a threat to safety and security.
Thousands signed a petition to have the RCMP issue an Amber Alert, but Croteau said the force stands by its decision not to issue that type of alert, saying the case did not meet the provincial threshold because police did not believe the girl was abducted.
The Mounties say their investigation is ongoing.
With files from The Canadian Press
Comments