Man attempts backpack snatch
Investigation reveals no attempt to grab boy
Shane Magee
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, October 22, 2014
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Police searched the city yesterday morning for a man who tried to grab the backpack of a student while he was crossing the street toward St. Joseph School.
Police were called to the school at 8:21 a.m. stated RCMP Const. Elenore Sturko in a news release.
"The investigation revealed that there was no attempt to grab the student," she stated.
"The suspect tried to grab the student's backpack and run, however, he failed to grab it away from the student."
The man fled the scene and a search of the area did not find the suspect, who police described as a tall Caucasian or aboriginal man with a medium build, wearing a beanie hat, a brown jacket, dark snowmobile pants, and carrying a brown backpack.
Bernie Giacobbo, the assistant superintendent of Yellowknife Education District No. 1, sent an e-mail to schools asking them to be vigilant and to alert parents about the incident. He wrote that the student is OK.
Mike Huvenaars, the assistant superintendent of finance for Yellowknife Catholic Schools, said the middle school-aged boy took the right steps to alert authorities immediately.
The district has staff who monitor school grounds before class, during school breaks and during dismissal, said Huvenaars. However, the attempt took place off school grounds.
The Catholic school board posted a message on its Facebook page and sent a notice home to parents about the incident. Huvenaars said he wasn't aware of any similar incidents recently.
It's always important to keep personal safety in mind and to teach children what to do in the event they encounter a stranger, said Sturko.
Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to contact Yellowknife RCMP or Crime Stoppers.
