RCMP Service Dog Assists in Rescuing Baby Abducted Into Manitoba Woods

An RCMP service dog is being hailed as a hero for assisting officers in rescuing an infant from a potentially life-threatening situation in the Winnipegosis area last month.

Police service dog Marook and his handler successfully located a man who ran into the woods on April 18 carrying an infant after allegedly making threats earlier that day. The baby was not dressed for the cold temperatures, according to Manitoba RCMP in a press release on May 1.

The incident began when Winnipegosis RCMP received a report about a man threatening residents with a gun earlier that day. Winnipegosis is within the municipality of Mossey River.

The suspect left the home with a baby shortly after 2:30 p.m., and it was believed that he was armed and known to the residents of the house.

After finding the suspect’s vehicle, RCMP officers saw him flee on foot into the forest with the infant. This led to the deployment of dog services, and Marook tracked the suspect two kilometers through heavily wooded terrain. The suspect and the infant were located, and the man was apprehended.

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“The infant appeared unharmed, and was handed over to Emergency Medical Services once officers hiked out of the bush,” police said. “It was determined the infant was not physically injured.”

The man arrested at the scene was not in possession of a firearm, police said.

A 26-year-old man is facing charges of flight from a peace officer, criminal negligence causing bodily harm, and two counts of uttering threats against a person related to the incident. The man remains in custody, according to police.

The temperature on that day ranged between 0 C and -3 C, as reported by Accuweather.

Individuals not appropriately dressed for the weather face risks from cold temperatures, especially infants who are at a higher risk.

Babies are particularly vulnerable to cold temperature injuries due to their bodies losing heat quicker, making them more susceptible to frostbite and hypothermia, as per information from Manitoba Health.

Frostbite occurs when both the skin and body tissue freeze due to prolonged cold exposure, while hypothermia happens when the body loses heat faster than it can generate, resulting in a dangerously low body temperature.