A man accused of kidnapping a woman last week in Saskatoon may have removed an electronic monitoring device at the time of the incident..
Clinton McLaughlin, 36, has been charged with kidnapping, aggravated assault, unlawful confinement, and breach of recognizance in connection with the case.
This is the second high-profile case in a year where a monitoring bracelet was taken off. Last October, convicted pedophile Michael Stanley cut off his ankle bracelet and fled to the United States.
Provincial electronic monitoring manager Bonnie Boulding says over the years the Ministry of Justice has seen a slight increase in the number of offenders who try to remove their ankle bracelets.
"Throughout the province we may have five to seven approximately per month that may have either attempted to cut the anklets, remove them, or perhaps don't return home."
The bracelets do sound an alarm when they have been cut close to the offender’s home, but they do not have GPS. However, that could change.
“Right now we are doing a study,” says Boulding. “We haven't made any determinations, but that is being looked at."
The technology being studied is three and a half years old, but the ministry says the contract is up in a year and half. It plans to put out tenders and look at new technology at that point.
