Comox Valley RCMP said a boy was allegedly grabbed on Willemar Avenue on Jan. 8, 2018. (Google Maps).
Comox Valley RCMP are investigating after a nine-year-old boy reported being grabbed by an unknown man on Willemar Avenue in Courtenay Tuesday morning.
The boy told police the incident happened at around 8:15 a.m. while he was walking to school on the sidewalk on Willemar Avenue, between 17th and 20th streets. The man allegedly grabbed onto the boy’s backpack. The boy reported pulling away and making his way to school. He told the principal what happened and police were notified.
Officers went to the area right away but did not locate a suspect matching the boy’s description. The Comox Valley RCMP Major Crime Unit is continuing with this investigation and is looking
for witnesses.
The suspect is described as Caucasian, middle-aged, not clean shaven with short grey/dark brown hair. He was reported wearing a black toque and a dark-green puffy coat that looked old. Police said he is described as speaking with a garbled, deep voice.
“This area of Courtenay has quite a bit of traffic in the morning when it’s time to get our children to school. It is very likely that someone in the area saw the suspect, or even what happened,” Const. Monika Terragni, media relations officer with the Comox Valley RCMP, said in a statement.
“We are asking anyone who may be a witness to give us a call, and for caregivers to talk to the children in their care about situations they may encounter when they’re out on their own.”
Anyone with information about the alleged incident is asked to call Comox Valley RCMP at 250-338-1321 and refer to file 2019-357. If you wish to remain anonymous, contact Comox Valley Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or at comoxvalleycrimestoppers.bc.ca.
Comox Valley RCMP said students and parents should report any suspicious activities immediately to the RCMP.
Alexa Huffman
