A high-risk sex offender "wanted Canada-wide" has been re-arrested
A high-risk sex offender “wanted Canada-wide” after he failed to report to a B.C. halfway house is back in police custody.
On the afternoon of August 13, a community policing volunteer spotted Tony Okanase, 39, in Vancouver’s Joyce-Collingwood neighbourhood. The volunteer promptly contacted law enforcement.
“VPD patrol officers arrested him without incident,” according to a police statement.
#VPDNews: High-risk offender Tony Okanase has been re-arrested by Vancouver Police, after a community policing volunteer spotted him in the city’s Joyce-Collingwood neighbourhood this afternoon.
Media Release: https://t.co/GnfCqf4hmc pic.twitter.com/5moHs2ujGW
— Vancouver Police (@VancouverPD) August 14, 2022
Okanase left Mountain Institution in Agassiz on the morning of August 12 after being granted statutory release. However, after reporting to a halfway house in Vancouver, Okanase had checked out and “hasn’t been seen or heard from since.”
#VPDNews: Vancouver Police are searching for a high-risk sex offender who disappeared from his halfway house just hours after being granted statutory release earlier today.
Media Release: https://t.co/LiMaZgiT18 pic.twitter.com/pZQzObGsQq
— Vancouver Police (@VancouverPD) August 13, 2022
Police said that he is “a high risk to the public” and has a history of violent sexual offences against strangers since 2003.