Tofino RCMP are warning parents to keep a close eye on their children after a report of an attempted abduction of a young child from the Esowista Reserve on April 29. Esowista is located just off the busy Tofino highway.
A young girl was playing outdoors near her Esowista home early Sunday afternoon when she was approached by an unknown male.
A family member says the child ran indoors, telling her grandfather, who was caring for her at the time, that she wanted him to come outside with her because she was scared. She then told him about the man that tried to take her and how she had to fight the man to get away.
The little girl gave a detailed description of the incident and her assailant. He is described as a white male, possibly in his 20s with blonde hair. He stands about 5’6” to 5’8” wearing dark pants and a white top with a distinctive voice.
The mother of the child, who was at work during that day, said she has been keeping a close eye on vehicles entering her community. Her daughter has been staying indoors since the incident, still too afraid to play outside.
“We just spoke to her the week before; we told her what to do if anyone tries to take her,” said the mother. She also said she knows her daughter isn’t making it up. The story and description the little girl gave is just too detailed for a five year-old to make up.
Chief Elmer Frank called the incident scary and said his people are still dealing with the emotional part of it. TFN support workers are providing assistance to the family and the entire community is being asked to do their part to keep the community safe for the children.
In memo sent out to community households, Chief Elmer Frank implored his people to be on alert for trespassers to Esowista and Ty-Histanis.
“There was an incident that occurred yesterday that potentially could have resulted in an abduction of one of our children. Please accept this notice as a call to help with our community watch… Esowista/Ty-Histanis is private property of TFN,” he wrote.
Residents are asked to turn trespassers away from the community.
Both reserves have signs posted clearly stating that trespassing on TFN private lands is strictly forbidden. Frank said his people, along with support from the RCMP, will step up enforcement of the no trespassing by-law.
Constable Matthew Hartwig of the Tofino RCMP said there is no vehicle description or license plate information to go on, so the file has been concluded.
Hartwig is a Youth Coordinator for the RCMP and says he will give talks at local schools to teach children about personal safety.
“Parents should teach their children not to talk to or take rides from strangers,” he advised. Parents, he said, should keep open lines of communication with their children.
Earlier this year Ha-Shilth-Sa was getting reports via Facebook about a stranger attempting to pick up a young girl walking along Hwy. 4 near the “Orange” bridge, or the bridge over the Somass River just west of Port Alberni.
According to Sgt. Dave Paddock of the Port Alberni RCMP, a report did come in on Feb. 15 about a 50-year-old man in a white truck stopping a 13-year-old girl along the highway asking if she needed a ride. The girl was not hitchhiking at the time, so the offer seemed suspicious.
RCMP want people to be aware of the dangers of hitchhiking or accepting rides from strangers.
Parents are being encouraged to talk about these safety issues with their children.
