RCMP Sergeant Peter Thiessen says tips from the public were vital in helping police arrest a suspect in a Maple Ridge abduction attempt.Simon Hayter/The Globe and Mail
Tips from the public, crystal-clear surveillance video and a unique piece of jewelry have helped RCMP make an arrest in a violent abduction in Maple Ridge, B.C.
Ridge Meadows Mounties confirm a suspect was picked up late Tuesday night in connection with the Jan. 19 abduction of a 17-year-old girl outside a Maple Ridge mall, about 40 kilometres east of Vancouver.
Sergeant Peter Thiessen says a tip from the public was vital in leading police to the suspect, and investigators also relied on surveillance photos from mall businesses to help with identification.
A small, gold cross is also expected to become a key piece of evidence after it was ripped from the attacker's neck during a struggle with the victim.
The case began Saturday night when a man approached the 17-year-old outside the mall and asked for help starting his car.
When the girl agreed, the suspect pulled a gun and forced her to drive him to a quiet location where she was beaten, but managed to escape to a nearby home and call for help.