No sign of missing man connected to Amber Alert as police urge witness to come forward
Provincial police are asking anyone between Lachute and Rouyn-Noranda, Que., to look for missing Yvon Lacasse
Provincial police are asking for the public's help in finding another important witness in connection with a Quebec Amber Alert case.
The Sûreté du Québec say they need help identifying a man who was last seen in Rouyn-Noranda Thursday overnight in the company of Ugo Fredette, who was arrested after a six-year-old Quebec boy went missing earlier this week.
The man is considered to be an important witness related to a homicide that occurred in Saint-Eustache on Thursday, which is also linked to the Amber Alert case, said police.
He is in his 40s with dark hair, a beard and blue eyes. He is five feet six inches tall and weighs 220 pounds.
Anyone with information is asked to contact 911 or 1-800-659-4264.
Search widens for Yvon Lacasse
Police say another witness came forward Sunday afternoon during their search for Yvon Lacasse, the missing 71-year-old man linked to the case.
Earlier Sunday, the SQ had asked for the public's help locating the witness, who was travelling by motorcycle on the stretch of road in Lachute, Que. That is where police believe Lacasse had his Honda CR-V taken from him by Fredette.
Sunday afternoon, about 200 people were combing the grounds to give a helping hand in search efforts.
Citizens between Lachute and Rouyn-Noranda, Que., located about 600 kilometres north, should also be on the lookout for Lacasse, said police.
They say he could still be missing because he may be injured and moving slowly.
"We are asking people, fishers, campers and residents, between Lachute and Rouyn-Noranda — obviously it's big — to pay special attention to ditches, to check yards and sheds," said SQ Sgt. Claude Denis.
Police said Lacasse could have been dropped off along the route north from Lachute, as Fredette is believed to have passed through Maniwaki and Rouyn-Noranda before entering Ontario.
Searching through the woods
Fredette's vehicle, a white pickup truck, was found abandoned near the roadside rest stop where the Sûreté du Québec set up their command post to search for Lacasse this weekend.
Argenteuil MNA Yves St-Denis is Lacasse's cousin. He's been helping with the search all weekend and maintains hopes Lacasse will be found alive.
"We're searching, we're searching with hope," St-Denis said.. "When we get in the woods like yesterday, we see something on the ground, we get all emotional."
Local police and volunteers were still combing the area Sunday night, but provincial police paused their operation, which is expected to resume Monday, according to SQ Sgt. Claude Denis.
They say it's too soon to say if the search perimeter will be expanded into Ontario.
Lacasse is described as bald with brown eyes. He is five feet four inches tall and weighs around 155 pounds. Anyone with information is asked to call 911 or the anonymous hotline.
Fredette in hospital
The six-year-old boy was transported overnight Friday back to Quebec, where he was placed under the care of provincial youth protection services.
Fredette appeared at a bail hearing in Ontario by video on Saturday. The judge and Crown decided to release him into the custody of the SQ to answer any charges he would face in Quebec — they decided those would take higher priority over charges in Ontario at this time. Police have not said what charges the man is facing.
The SQ had expected to take him into custody.
Fredette sustained injuries between 2 and 3:30 p.m. Saturday, while in custody of the OPP, and required medical attention, Sgt. Carolle Dionne, the spokesperson for Ontario Provincial Police said.
He was transferred by ambulance to an Ontario hospital, but the nature of his injuries hasn't been released. Fredette remains in hospital.
The OPP has notified the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) about the man's injuries — the SIU works independently of police and conducts criminal investigations into circumstances involving police and civilians that result in serious injury, death or allegations of sexual assault.
The SIU was monitoring Fredette's condition Saturday evening, SIU spokesperson Jason Gennaro said, and determined it didn't meet the threshold to invoke the SIU mandate.
The transfer back to Quebec has been delayed because of the injury. It's unknown when he'll return to Quebec.
with files from Verity Stevenson, the Canadian Press and Radio-Canada