Police are investigating some suspicious activity after receiving a report from a witness who saw a young girl picked up and carried away by a man on Tuesday night.
Police were contacted by a driver who explained that around 6:20 p.m. he had seen a young girl in a pink jacket, lying on the side of the road near Enterprise Avenue and McCallum Road. Near the girl was a Caucasian man in his 40s with curly brown hair and wearing a dark jean jacket and jeans.
The witness saw the man pick the girl up off the ground and carry her in the direction of a treed area just to the west of that location.
Police say the driver contacted police because he was concerned that the child, believed to be between 6 and 10 years of age, didn’t appear to be moving.
Abbotsford Police searched the area, along with Central Fraser Valley Search and Rescue until about 3 a.m. on Wednesday morning.
Const. Ian MacDonald said police are continuing to investigate as they have not made contact with the male or the young girl.
MacDonald said they have moved away from an active search after search teams and canine units were unable to find any trace of the pair.
He said it was likely they moved quickly through the paths and likely into one of the residential areas.
MacDonald said that they have received "preliminary and positive news" that there were no outstanding or missing children before the call from the witness and they have not received any missing children reports since.
"It's positive news, but it's not conclusive news."
MacDonald said they have received reports from people who saw the pair before the witness reported to police and said it appeared the pair knew each other and it was possibly a parent of the child and "the young girl appeared to be in good spirits."
He said what police are missing is a witness who saw the pair after the driver's report.
MacDonald said police will follow up today by seeking security video in the area and talking to people in nearby neighbourhoods.
He said they are looking for information about people matching the description after 6:20 p.m. He said if there is a parent or guardian who fits the description "we'd love to hear from them, because that would allow us to verify that this young girl is okay."
Anyone with information about this incident should contact the Abbotsford Police Department at 604-859-5225 or text us at 222973 (abbypd).