An Amber Alert issued Monday for two children in Saskatchewan has been extended to South Dakota.
Saskatchewan RCMP said evidence uncovered during the investigation indicated that seven-year-old Luna Potts and eight-year-old Hunter Potts were in South Dakota with their mother, Leah Potts, 45, and her civil partner, 50-year-old Benjamin Martin Moore of Eastend, Sask.
South Dakota authorities sent out a statewide Amber Alert at 11:05 CDT Tuesday evening.
RCMP said they are working closely with U.S. law enforcement to locate the children, their mother and Moore.
Speaking on Tuesday, RCMP said Moore has a history of sexual offenses against children and vulnerable persons and has convictions for sexual assault and possession of child pornography.
An Amber Alert was issued for the two children at the request of Shaunavon RCMP at approximately 7:20 p.m. Monday.
“We believe Luna and Hunter are in danger in the presence of Benjamin Moore and we want to locate them as quickly as possible to ensure they are returned home safely,” said Chief Superintendent Tyler Bates of the Saskatchewan RCMP Southern District during the press conference.
Shaunavon RCMP have been asked to assist the Department of Social Services in investigating the allegations surrounding Moore. Before police could question him, Moore, the two children and their mother left the residence, RCMP said. Authorities visited the East End home on August 2 but he had already been released.
“We believe they are all together and that they have left the residence. The circumstances as to how they left the residence are very much a matter of ongoing investigation at this point,” Bates said.
The ministry then sought an arrest warrant for the children, prompting the issuance of an Amber Alert.
“Ultimately, when the detention order and the request for a detention order was made and granted by the Department of Human Services, that certainly set off the Amber Alert,” he said.
RCMP said Moore did not report a change of primary or secondary residence to the registration center as required by the Sex Offender Information Registry Act.
As a result, Moore was charged and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
Moore was previously charged and convicted of sexually touching a minor under the age of 16 and possession of child pornography in June 2009, according to provincial court records.
Court documents show he was sentenced to two years at the Saskatchewan federal prison in Prince Albert for those convictions.
Bates said they are aware Moore goes by many names or aliases, including Hawk Smith and Ben Scutchings.
“We felt the public needed that information because ultimately if he identified himself as one of those aliases, that could be useful information,” he said.
They may be traveling in a dark blue 2015 Chevy Equinox, Alberta license plate CGC2492.
“The most serious step we can take in terms of finding children who are in danger is an Amber Alert,” Bates said. “We will continue to provide information regarding their whereabouts.”
Bates said Saskatchewan residents still need to be alert.
“In terms of them potentially returning to Saskatchewan or Canada, that’s entirely possible,” he said.
Following the report, RCMP said a person reported an incident involving Moore to police.
“We encourage anyone else who may have been victimized by Benjamin Moore to report it to the police,” Bates said.
“We take these matters seriously and want to ensure that survivors are supported.”
Bates said they have received a number of tips so far related to the ongoing investigation.
“Our provincial investigative teams have taken over the investigation and are following up on all information received,” he said.
Bates said their priority right now is to find the children and their mother.
“We believe these children are in grave danger and that is our priority.” We are exhausted and looking at all avenues of investigation to find them,” he said.
RCMP are asking anyone who sees Luna, Hunter, Leah Potts or Benjamin Moore, or has information regarding their whereabouts, to immediately contact 911 or 1-877-SOAMBER (762-6237) in Canada. For the United States, you can report information to 911 or by calling 1-306-780-5563.
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