Two children at centre of Sask. Amber Alert found safe in South Dakota, suspect arrested
The Meade County Sheriff’s Office in South Dakota said it has arrested the man wanted in connection with an Amber Alert in Saskatchewan.
Police confirmed to CTV News that 50-year-old Benjamin Martin Moore has been arrested.
Moore, as well as his common-law spouse, are currently in police custody in South Dakota.
The two children at the centre of the alert were recovered safely. All four were located at a campground near Sturgis, S.D.
The children are now in state custody and officials are making plans to return them to what they said is their rightful custodian.
RCMP confirmed the four people involved in the alert were located.
“There was most definitely a collective sigh of relief amongst all agencies involved in bringing these two young children to safety,” Chief Superintendent Tyler Bates of the Saskatchewan RCMP’s South District said in a Wednesday news release.
“Obviously, there is a long road ahead and a number of investigative avenues that need to be followed up on. We want to assure the public that this investigation remains a priority for the Saskatchewan RCMP.”
South Dakota’s Amber Alert was issued late on Tuesday night and lasted about 90 minutes before they were found.
The Amber Alert was issued for the two children at the request of Shaunavon RCMP at approximately 7:20 p.m. on August 8.
Speaking Tuesday, RCMP confirmed Moore has a history of sexual offences against children and vulnerable persons.
Moore was previously charged and convicted of sexually touching a young child under the age of 16 and possessing child pornography in June 2009, according to provincial court records.
Court records show he was sentenced to two years at the Saskatchewan Federal Penitentiary in Prince Albert for those convictions.
Shaunavon RCMP was asked to assist the Ministry of Social Services with an investigation into allegations surrounding Moore. Before police could question him, Moore, the two children and their mother had vacated their residence, RCMP said.
Authorities visited the home in Eastend on Aug. 5 but it had already been vacated.
The ministry then sought an apprehension order for the children, resulting in the Amber Alert.
RCMP said Moore failed to report a change of main or secondary residence to the registration centre, as required by the sex offender information registry act.
As a result, Moore was charged and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
Following the alert, RCMP said an individual reported an incident involving Moore to police.
“We are encouraging anyone else who may have been a victim of Benjamin Moore to file a report with the police,” Chief Superintendent Tyler Bates of the Saskatchewan RCMP’s South District said Tuesday.
“We take these matters seriously and we want to ensure survivors are supported.”
RCMP clarified in a Wednesday news release that authorities had visited Moore’s residence to execute a search warrant on Aug. 5. The date was previously reported as Aug. 2 by the Saskatchewan RCMP.
With files from CTV News Regina's Allison Bamford
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
2 teens charged in Halifax homicide: police
Two teenagers have been charged with second-degree murder in connection to an alleged homicide near the Halifax Shopping Centre earlier this week.
'Deep ignorance': Calls for Manitoba trustee to resign sparked after comments about Indigenous people and reconciliation
A rural Manitoba school trustee is facing calls to resign over comments he made about Indigenous people and residential schools earlier this week.
12-year-old hippo in Japan raised as a male discovered to be a female
When Gen-chan arrived at a zoo in Japan in 2017, no one questioned whether the then-five-year-old hippopotamus was a boy. Seven years later, zoo staff made a surprising discovery: Gen-chan, now 12, was female.
Here's why Harvey Weinstein's New York rape conviction was tossed and what happens next
Here's what you need to know about why movie mogul Harvey Weinstein's rape conviction was thrown out and what happens next.
Legendary hockey broadcaster Bob Cole dies at 90: CBC
Bob Cole, a welcome voice for Canadian hockey fans for a half-century, has died at the age of 90. Cole died Wednesday night in St. John's, N.L., surrounded by his family, his daughter, Megan Cole, told the CBC.
Humanist group threatening to sue Vancouver over council prayers
The B.C. Humanist Association has threatened legal action against the City of Vancouver for allowing prayers at council, following a similar warning issued earlier this month to a smaller community on Vancouver Island.
LHSC performs a Canadian first in robot-assisted direct lateral spine surgery
Spine surgery may never be the same for people with chronic back pain and other physical ailments.