Randall Hopley was hiding out at a Bible Camp near Crowsnest Past, just across the Alberta/B.C. border when he was found in one of the empty mining cabins, said RCMP Insp. Brendan Fitzpatrick, operations officer, "E" Division Major Crime Unit, at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon.
When Hopley was arrested the vehicle was also located nearby, added RCMP Cpl. Dan Moskaluk. Fitzpatrick said investigators cannot add too many specifics about the nature of the arrest, but there were a number of police dog teams working in the area, and they were checking old mining houses. At one door a dog indicated there was someone inside, and Hopley was arrested after a short chase, said Fitzpatrick. He fell trying to flee but his current health condition is unknown. Hopley has seen a doctor and he has and will continue to receive any necessary medical care, he added.
Police provided a brief timeline of the events surrounding Kienan Hebert's disappearance at the beginning of the press conference.
Fitzpatrick said when Kienan was reported missing, the RCMP immediately deployed crews to look for him, along with Search and Rescue, and explored the possibility that this case may have been an abduction. RCMP tried to issue an AMBER Alert at an earlier stage, but the criteria had not been met. When they were able to identify Hopley as a suspect the AMBER Alert was issued. The identification of Hopley allowed the RCMP to make a plea that led to Kienan's return, said Fitzpatrick.
He added that the media in Alberta picked up the AMBER Alert and the coverage was extensive. "The minute that AMBER Alert was activated, I was monitoring the Internet and the news," said Fitzpatrick. "The coverage was extensive in Alberta," he added. The coverage was "arguably" as good or better than the coverage in B.C. he said.
Police were able to track Hopley to that location in Alberta after some information came in on Monday night that he might be there. Despite earlier reports that Hopley may have been working with someone, Fitzpatrick said the investigation right now points to the fact that Hopley acted alone.
Charges are expected to be laid against Hopley, but police will not release any further details at this time. He was arrested for kidnapping and child abduction, and is being held in Cranbrook and will appear in front of a judge on Wednesday.
"The entire operation, has been, as you know, very extensive," said Fitzpatrick. "We had tips coming in from the interior of British Columbia, we had tips coming in from Ontario."
When questioned about why the Hebert household was unlocked and empty at the time of Kienan's return, Fitzpatrick said the probability that Kienan would be returned to his residence was extremely low; "a virtually unprecedented situation." The longer a kidnap victim has not been returned, the worse case scenario for the outcome of the case, added Fitzpatrick. On the balance of probabilities, it wasn't going to be his house."
There was no deal made with Hopley, added Fitzpatrick, about Kienan's return. It was a plea made by the family and the police to Hopley with the thought that he could be monitoring the media.
One hundred and fifty investigators were involved in the case, and Fitzpatrick, Moskaluk, and Sgt. Lorne Craig, detachment commander, Sparwood Detachment, and Elk Valley RCMP, expressed what a joyous moment it was for everyone involved, not only when Kienan was found unharmed, but also when Hopley was arrested.
"I can tell you that this is one of the best days these investigators out here have seen," said Fitzpatrick. "To have that child found in the middle of the night on Sunday was absolutely exhilarating," he added. He called the moment Hopley was arrested was a very proud moment for the RCMP.
Craig agreed, calling it a proud moment for everyone involved, and he thanked all the volunteers and everyone searching for Kienan, including those who called in with information.
Now the focus will be on the follow-up before handing over all the evidence to the Crown for charges to be laid.
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