John Lehmann
A Calgary man accused of abducting his partner's six children has been arrested after police say they spotted the group east of Toronto.
Durham regional police say an officer stopped a green SUV with Alberta licence plates in Bowmanville, Ont., on Wednesday afternoon and found it was linked to an alleged parental abduction in Calgary.
The children, who are between 18 months and 11 years of age, "seem to be in good health," said Sgt. Bill Calder, adding they did not require medical attention.
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They have been placed in the care of the Children's Aid Society, he said.
The driver, a 49-year-old man, was sought under a Canada-wide warrant, Calder said, though he could not specify what charges the man is facing.
The man's name is not being released to protect the identities of the children.
A bail hearing is scheduled for Thursday and authorities are now making arrangements to return the man to Calgary.
Calder said it's not unusual for police to stay tight-lipped about parental abduction cases when they feel there is no immediate threat to the children's well-being.
But he said it's "unusual" for so many children to be reported missing at once.
"I can't remember the last time it happened," he said.
Calgary Police said they received a report Monday from a woman saying her six children and common law partner were no longer in their home.
Although Durham Regional Police said the children belonged to the man, Calgary Police said the man was not their legal guardian and they are still investigating the exact relationship.
They issued a Canada-wide warrant the next day for the man's arrest, but said that was not an indication the children were in danger.
Police said an Amber Alert was not sent out because they did not believe the children were in harm's way.
They said the man was looking after the children while the mother was away, but did not have permission to take them out of the area.
"All evidence showed that the children were in no immediate danger and that the man was able and planning to care for them," the Calgary police said.
"He had also been in contact with authorities in Alberta while driving through Ontario, further reducing concerns over the welfare of the children."