Man who grabbed small child at waterfront park jumps into lake to escape: RCMP

Apr 29 2019, 10:19 pm

RCMP are investigating after a bizarre kidnapping attempt that took place in Kelowna over the weekend.

On Sunday, April 28, at approximately 2:28 pm, police arrived at Kerry Park, after reports of an assault and disturbance at that location.

Witnesses at the scene told officers that a man allegedly grabbed onto a small child being held by its mother.

After a struggle, the male suspect allegedly escaped and jumped into the waters of Okanagan Lake in an attempt to swim away.

He was later found isolated on a log boom as police entered negotiations with the individual. RCMP eventually used a rescue vessel from the Kelowna Fire Department and arrested him without further incident.

“It’s unclear at this time exactly what the male’s intentions were,” states Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey, spokesperson for the Kelowna RCMP. “As a parent myself, I can only imagine what would have been going through the minds of the child’s parents.”

Fortunately, the child was seemingly uninjured and, according to police, was medically examined and released from a local hospital.

The suspect, a 30-year-old man from Alberta, faces potential charges. He remains in custody at this time and will make a court appearance on Monday, April 29, 2019.

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