RED EARTH CREE NATION – The community of Red Earth Cree Nation has pulled together in the search for a missing five-year-old boy.
Frank Young was last seen on April 19 at approximately 12:30 p.m., at his residence on Red Earth Cree Nation and was possibly seen at the local playground around 3:30 p.m. Red Earth Cree Nation is approximately 225 kilometres northeast of Prince Albert.
On Friday Search and Rescue Saskatchewan Association of Volunteers members will continue to search as more teams are being activated Friday at Red Earth First Nation.
Porcupine Plain Search & Rescue, Parkland Search and Rescue - Saskatchewan, Prince Albert North Search and Rescue, Buckland Fire and Rescue, Wadena Search and Rescue, and North Corman Park Search and Rescue will all be helping.
The teams are activated by Saskatchewan RCMP GSAR team and dispatched through Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency
Thursday morning and early afternoon searchers are still conducting ground, air and water searches but Frank Young still hasn't been found.
Wednesday night a SAR airplane arrived in Red Earth and made grid passes in the search for Young. They are using infrared/heat sensor cameras over the bushes. The light of the plane could be seen in the sky as late as 11:25 p.m.
Three drone crews continued to map out the bush lines and shorelines. The boats are equipped with dragnets and underwater cameras and sonar. The RCMP canine unit has been searching into the ngiht.
“Crews worked all day dragging the bottom of Carrot River situated through the reserve of Red Earth where it was thought Frank could be,” Ochakasteepichikiw Papageorgiou posted on Red Earth FM's Facebook Wednesday night.
The weather was a cause for concern but Wednesday night Papageorgiou said the weather was clearing up.
“The weather is super clear - no wind - no clouds - and warmed up a bit too.”
Crews and volunteers continued to work tirelessly to assist the community as best as they can into the night, said Papageorgiou.
There have been donations of food from Nipawin Carrot River First Nations, stores and people from other communities.
Members from Saskatchewan RCMP’s Carrot River Detachment, Police Dog Services and Search and Rescue, as well as volunteers from Prince Albert Grand Council Search and Rescue, Search and Rescue Saskatchewan Association of Volunteers and the local Red Earth community are assisting.
Door-to-door inquiries at residences continue but Frank hasn’t been located.
On Thursday morning Saskatchewan RCMP said they, along with partner agencies and local community volunteers, continue to search for 5-year-old Frank Young.
The RCMP say that their investigation to date doesn't indicate an abduction and the criteria for an Amber Alert hasn't been met.
Young is described as four feet tall, approximately 66 pounds, black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing rubber boots, green pyjamas, and a navy blue jacket. He was last seen wearing Paw Patrol rubber boots, green pyjamas with dinosaurs on them and a navy blue windbreaker-style jacket.
Police and Frank’s family are concerned for his well-being. Anyone with information on Frank Young’s whereabouts should call Carrot River RCMP at 306-768-1200. In an emergency, call 911 immediately.
ljoy@glaciermedia.ca
Updated with additional information from RCMP
