Charges laid against 19-year-old man in relation to Amber Alert

After an Amber Alert was issued on Sunday for 6-year-old girl in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, police say they have since laid charges against a 19-year-old man.

The alert was issued for Emma O’Keeffe, who suffers from epilepsy and autism and is unable to walk and speak. Luckily, police were able to locate the young girl early the next morning.

The abduction is believed to have occurred outside a strip mall at 11204 Railway Ave. North Battleford, Saskatchewan.

Hundreds of hours of surveillance footage from over 200 businesses was viewed as part of this investigation, establishing the stolen vehicle's movements after it was stolen.

As a result of this investigation, 19-year-old Johnathan Ryann Gunville of North Battleford has been charged with:

• Abduction of a person under 14, Section 281 of the Criminal Code
• Unlawful confinement, Section 279(2) of the Criminal Code
• Abandoning a child, Section 218 of the Criminal Code
• Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, Section 249(1)(a) of the Criminal Code x2
• Theft of a motor vehicle, Section 333.1 of the Criminal Code
• Possession of property obtained by crime over $5000, Section 355(a) of the Criminal Code
• Evade a police officer, Section 249.1 of the Criminal Code
• Drive while disqualified, Section 259(4)(a) of the Criminal Code x2
• Fail to comply with a probation order, Section 733.1(1) of the Criminal Code x8

These charges encompass the Amber Alert on Sept. 16, as well as two subsequent vehicle thefts on Sept. 19 and Sept. 20.

Gunville has been remanded into custody and is scheduled to appear in North Battleford Provincial Court on Monday, September 24, at 9:30 a.m.