Search stalled

The OPP underwater search and recovery team’s search for missing 15-year-old Jordan Wabasse has been stalled until Wednesday morning because of the lack of available light among other issues.

The four-member team arrived in the city at 3 a.m. Tuesday and began their search on the Kaministiquia River by the James Street swing bridge around noon to assist the local police in their search for Wabasse, who has been missing since Feb. 7.

Evidence observed by volunteer searchers led police to believe Wabasse could have wandered out onto the river.

OPP Sgt. Shelley Garr said the dive team can only work during daylight hours, but they will continue to search until they’re satisfied a complete search has been conducted.

The search for Wabasse has been a co-operative effort from the Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service, the Anishinabek Police Service, OPP, Thunder Bay Police Service and RCMP.

The James Street swing bridge over the Kaministiquia River was closed during the search on Tuesday and has since been re-opened. It will be closed again Wednesday once the underwater team continues the search.

The investigation is ongoing and officials with the Thunder Bay Police Service said any further details will be released immediately if there is a significant development in the case.
 
Police chief Bob Herman said the Wabasse family is in the hearts of police service members and the police are doing everything they can to assist the family.

“We’re all members of our community; we all have families,” he said. “If it was our child that was missing, we would feel absolutely terrible.”