Police were watching closely at a fundraiser for kids in Kindersley Saturday.
Parents said given the alleged sightings of Michael Stanley, an on the loose sex offender, in the area, they were happy to have the police watching over the fundraiser.
“I’m just concerned about the kids’ safety,” said Jo Simpson, a Kindersley parent.
Even though all the sightings of Stanley are unconfirmed, people around town have been on the lookout.
“I know people who’ve seen him or said they seen him at the store, and they were quite concerned because they had their little kids with them at the time,” Larry Stevens, another Kindersley parent told CTV.
Stanley has a long history of sexual offenses, including taking children from playgrounds. On Tuesday he left Edmonton, and in Lloydminster he cut off his electronic monitoring bracelet. Edmonton Police said he was released from jail in April 2011, after serving 32 months for assault and forcible confinement.
RCMP have received several reported sightings of Stanley in Saskatchewan, including in Rosetown. None have been confirmed, but some have been proven false. Since Stanley is considered high risk to re-offend, communities have taken precautions, including heavier security in schools.
“We had an emergency plan. We were able to enact it. We followed the protocol, and we had good people in the schools, the community, and in the police acting on it,” Kindersley Mayor John Enns-Wind said.
Saskatoon police said they have no reason to believe Stanley has come to the bridge city. Meanwhile, the mayor of Kindersley said the schools will remain on lockdown on Monday if Stanley isn’t caught by then.
