Rescue crews search the shoreline of Long Lake for 10-year-old Ashayo Johnson in North Preston, N.S., on Oct. 27. Johnson was last seen on Tuesday and the RCMP issued an emergency alert early Wednesday.Andrew Vaughan/The Canadian Press
Nova Scotia RCMP announced late Wednesday that a 10-year-old boy who had been missing outside Halifax since Tuesday has been found safe following an intensive daylong search.
The police force said on Twitter its investigation was ongoing and it would provide more information as it becomes available.
“Thank you to all involved in this search,” the tweet said, singling out the North Preston community where the boy lives.
RCMP Cpl. Lisa Croteau said earlier that the child had last been seen in North Preston late Tuesday, and there was no evidence to suggest he had been abducted.
Police initially alerted the public to the disappearance through a news release early Wednesday before issuing an emergency alert in the Halifax and Hants areas later in the morning.
The effort had involved searchers looking from the ground, the air and along the shoreline of a lake. RCMP officers were joined in the search by Halifax police officers, who were assisted by a Department of Natural Resources helicopter, civilian ground search and rescue crews and police dogs.
Sgt. Dave Legge of the Integrated Criminal Investigation Division said in a statement earlier Wednesday that authorities were working closely with the family.
“I want to thank ground search and rescue crews for being exceptional partners,” he said.
The police force said it decided to issue an emergency alert because of the missing boy’s young age and the weather conditions forecast for the area. Environment Canada issued a rainfall warning in the Halifax area Wednesday forecasting up to 75 millimetres of rain.
This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Facebook and Canadian Press News Fellowship.
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