Calgary police chief questions whether reward would help O'Brien Amber Alert | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
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Calgary police chief questions whether reward would help O'Brien Amber Alert

Nathan O'Brien was reported missing along with grandparents Alvin and Kathy Liknes.
Image Credit: City of Calgary

CALGARY - Calgary's police chief questions whether a reward would help the investigation into the disappearance of a five-year-old boy and his grandparents.

Nathan O'Brien was reported missing Monday when his mother went to pick him up after a sleepover at the grandparents — Alvin and Kathy Liknes.

No one was home and an Amber Alert was issued by police.

Nathan's father, Rod, said the family would be offering a reward.

Chief Rick Hansen said in cases like this a reward can just cause more work for police because all kinds of people could step forward with bogus tips that must be checked out.

"If you do use a reward, if there is a lot of money that is created for a reward, frequently it increases the workload because you have got all kinds of people then who step forward with information that may not even be related to it," he said Wednesday.

"You have to at that point in time filter any and all information that you get and if you have a significant reward it does add to the workload, not only for us, but for the Crown prosecutors and everybody else."

Hansen said if people have information about a case they will usually call the Crime Stoppers phone tip line.

Calgary police were to told a media availability Wednesday afternoon with family members of the missing boy and his grandparents.

Nathan's grandfather Alvin Liknes is shown in a Calgary Police Service handout photo. Details are pending on a large reward for information on the disappearance of a five-year-old Calgary boy and his grandparents.
Nathan's grandfather Alvin Liknes is shown in a Calgary Police Service handout photo. Details are pending on a large reward for information on the disappearance of a five-year-old Calgary boy and his grandparents.
Image Credit: HO-Calgary Police Service

 

ORIGINAL AMBER ALERT:

The Calgary Police Service continues to investigate the suspicious disappearance of three people from the southwest.

At approximately 10 a.m., on Monday, June 30, 2014, police were called to an address in the 100 block of 38A Avenue S.W., by a mother who attended the address to collect her five-year-old son. The son was staying at that location with his grandparents.

The child and both grandparents were not at the residence and have not been located since.

Evidence found at the residence suggests the disappearance of all three family members may be suspicious.

Several units from across the Service are now involved in the investigation and search for the missing trio but continue to appeal for information from the public.

Since the Amber Alert was issued, police have received numerous calls. Investigators are now working through those, but at this time there does not appear to be any significant leads.

The Forensic Crime Scene Unit has returned to the residence this morning, Tuesday, July 1, 2014, to continue the search for any clues that would explain the disappearance.  

Officers have also conducted neighbourhood enquiries, a grid search of the vicinity and interviewed numerous family members and associates of the family.

It has been determined that the family held an Estate Sale at their address over the weekend. Although it is too early to determine if this had any role to play in their disappearance, police would like to hear from anyone who attended the sale.

The following individuals remain missing:

Nathan O’Brien, 5, is described as Caucasian, approximately 3’ tall, with blond, curly hair, and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing peach-coloured shorts and a striped blue hoodie.

Alvin Cecil LIKNES, 66, is Caucasian, 6’ tall, 200 pounds, with a slim build, and grey/blond hair.

Kathryn Faye LIKNES, 53, is Caucasian, 5’3” tall, 120 pounds, with red/brown hair and green eyes.

Photos of all three missing persons are available on The City of Calgary Newsroom.

Police are asking anyone with information about this case to call 403-266-1234 or Crime Stoppers anonymously using any of the following methods:

TALK: 1-800-222-8477

TYPE: calgarycrimestoppers.org

TEXT: tttTIPS to 274637

Details of a media availability will be sent in a seperate media advisory.

News from © The Canadian Press, 2014
The Canadian Press

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