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Investigation continues after youth grabbed young boy at Collicutt Centre

Feb 15, 2019 | 10:23 AM

Red Deer RCMP are still investigating a disturbing incident last week at the Collicutt Centre that has garnered a lot of attention on social media.

The incident took place at around 8 p.m. on February 8 when a young boy was playing at the facility and became separated for a short time from his mother.

A male youth approached the boy, said to be four or five-years-old, grabbed him and took him into a change room where he locked them inside a stall.

Collicutt Centre staff were unable to open the stall door, but it was eventually opened from the inside. Then, staff and other nearby adults apprehended the suspect until police arrived to take him into custody.

No one was injured during the incident.

Cst. Derek Turner says charges are pending against the male youth suspect.

“We certainly do appreciate the public’s assistance in helping us solve crimes. But we want to ensure everyone’s safety,” Turner says.

“Once in a while things happen where the public gets involved and subdues a suspect until police arrive. If that’s the case they certainly can’t be harming whoever they’re subduing, otherwise there may be another investigation involved.”