Canada

Canada-wide warrants issued for Edmonton father in alleged abduction of his children

Police seeking Scot Macdermid on 2 counts of abduction in contravention of a custody order

An Edmonton father who was reported missing with his young son and daughter five weeks ago is now wanted on charges related to the alleged abduction of his children.

In a news release on Wednesday, the Edmonton Police Service announced that Canada-wide warrants have been issued for 42-year-old Scot Macdermid on two counts of abduction in contravention of a custody order.

The charge is laid when it is alleged that a parent or guardian has taken or hidden a child younger than 14 in violation of a court custody or parenting order.

Macdermid has been charged with one count in connection with the alleged abduction of his son, George, 6, and a second count in the alleged abduction of his daughter, Lesley, 9. Court records show the charges were issued on Sept. 4.

Police continue to seek the public's assistance in locating Macdermid and his children.

The case of the missing children first came to light on Sept. 8, when Edmonton issued a news release seeking the public's assistance locating Macdermid and his two children.

Police said he was last seen at Manning Town Centre, a shopping plaza in northeast Edmonton, on Aug. 28.

Since then, investigators learned that Macdermid and his children were seen in Lloydminster, which straddles the Alberta-Saskatchewan border, on the same day, but police said the father and his children's path of travel beyond the border city was unknown.

In Wednesday's statement, police said investigators have assessed the available evidence and determined that this investigation has not met the criteria for an Amber Alert at this time.

"An Amber Alert is one tool available to police, but it is not the investigation itself," Staff Sgt. Robert Davis with the EPS Child Protection Section said in the statement. "Finding Lesley and George remains our top priority.

"We want the community to know that we are working to locate the children safely."

In order for police agencies in Canada to launch an Amber Alert in the disappearance of a child, investigators must have grounds to believe that a child has been abducted and the circumstances must suggest that a child is in immediate physical danger.

Macdermid is described as five feet five inches tall, weighing about 160 pounds with brown hair and blue eyes.

George is described as four foot two inches tall, weighing 45 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. Lesley is four foot four inches tall, weighs about 45 pounds and has brown hair and brown eyes.

Police have said said Macdermid has been unreachable, and there is concern for the welfare of his children.

Anyone who has seen the father and his children or who has information on their whereabouts is asked to contact Edmonton police or Crime Stoppers. Police have said the Macdermid and his children should not be approached.

Wallis Snowdon is a journalist with CBC Edmonton focused on bringing stories to the website and the airwaves. Originally from New Brunswick, Wallis has reported in communities across Canada, from Halifax to Fort McMurray. She previously worked as a digital and current affairs producer with CBC Radio in Edmonton. Share your stories with Wallis at wallis.snowdon@cbc.ca.