NEWS RELEASE
SAULT STE MARIE POLICE SERVICE
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Including four previous occasions, on Wednesday, May 3 and Thursday, May 4, 2017 officers with the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service partnered with the following agencies;
- The Marine Security Enforcement Team (MSET - RCMP / Canadian Coast Guard):
- The Ontario Provincial Police Marine Unit,
- The Ontario Provincial Police Underwater Search and Recovery Unit,
- RCMP Sault Detachment,
- Michigan State Police Marine Services Team Special Operations Division
- US Coast Guard Sector Sault Ste. Marie,
- US Coast Guard Vessel Traffic Service;
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- The Sault Search and Rescue
and began a large scale search of the St. Marys River downstream from the area near Point Aux Pins Drive in relation to missing person John Szczepanik. Mr. Szczepanik was last seen riding his snow machine on the ice near open water on Mar. 5, 2017.
On Wednesday, May 3, 2017 at approximately 7:30 p.m. officers located Mr. Szczepanik’s snow machine in the navigation channel of the St. Marys River just south of the US border in approximately 14 metres of water. A concentrated search was conducted in that area and officers made no further discoveries.
In addition to the concentrated search, officers have also completed a large scale search of the water and shoreline using all available technology, resources and equipment. No further discoveries have been made and the large scale search operation will be suspended at this time.
Inspector Monique Rollin, the officer in charge of the search effort stated; “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Mr. Szczepanik at this difficult time. Although the large scale search has concluded, Mr. Szczepanik will remain as an open missing person investigation and we will continue efforts to locate him and follow up on any information that may help us locate Mr. Szczepanik and provide closure to his family.”
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