Saturday July 29, 2023 | SURREY, BC [Updated July 30, 2023 – updated 1:15 pm with police statement]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
The two children who were the subject of an Amber Alert as issued by Surrey RCMP on July 19 have been found and are safe.
This evening, July 29, Surrey RCMP issued a statement saying they are “relieved to update the public that the two children who were subjects of an AMBER Alert issued on July 19, 2023, have been located safely.”
“On July 29, 2023, at approximately 7:20 p.m., the two children were located safe and are in the process of being reunited with family,” it was stated in a news release issued around 8:30 pm PDT this evening.
A Surrey RCMP news conference will be held tomorrow (Sunday July 30) at 12:30 pm PDT, with further information.
RCMP thanks the public, media and community:
On July 29, the RCMP said: “We recognize that many have been following this investigation closely since the AMBER Alert was issued,” says, Surrey RCMP Media Relations Officer, Corporal Vanessa Munn. “We sincerely appreciate the assistance from the public, media, community and policing partners, who all played an important role in helping to safely locate the children.”
July 30 police update:
Here is the Surrey RCMP statement about recovering the two children, in full, issued on July 30, 2023:
“On July 19, an AMBER alert was issued in the province of British Columbia in relation to two children who were allegedly abducted by their mother. The two children were located safely Saturday evening and the Amber alert was cancelled.
“Through investigative efforts, Surrey RCMP Serious Crime Unit identified a rural property in Alberta, just outside of the town of Edson where the children were believed to be.
“The Alberta RCMP Emergency Response Team was engaged, as our top priority was to ensure the safety of everyone involved.
“On July 29, 2023, at approximately 7:20 p.m., the team entered the property where they located the two children and three adults. Verity Bolton and Abraxas Glazov were arrested and the third adult was detained. The children were taken to their father who was waiting with investigators at a nearby Detachment in Alberta.
“The property they were on was secured for a full search to be conducted today.
“This morning, 45-year-old Verity Bolton was charged with two counts of Abduction in contravention of a custody order and 53-year-old Abraxas Scherbing-Glazov was charged with two counts of Abduction of a person under the age of 14. Verity Bolton and Abraxas Glazov remain in custody in Alberta awaiting their next court appearance.
“During the 11-day Amber Alert activation, 435 tips were received, from all over British Columbia, Alberta and even as far away as New Brunswick. In each instance, local police were engaged and assisted in following up on the information. Our investigators remained open to all possibilities at every stage of the Amber Alert, and worked diligently around the clock to advance the investigation and bring these children home safely.
“Surrey RCMP received invaluable assistance from our policing partners in Alberta, who stepped in to provide support without hesitation. We are deeply grateful to the Edson RCMP, Alberta RCMP Major Crimes Unit, Alberta RCMP Emergency Response Team, and RCMP Air Services. Their combined efforts played a vital role in helping us safely locate and recover the children.
“We sincerely appreciate the assistance from the public, media, and other policing and community partners, who all played an important role in this investigation.
We recognize that many people have been following this investigation closely since the AMBER Alert was issued and that there are many questions. However, we are limited to the details that we can provide as this matter is now before the courts.
“The children have been reunited with their family, who are extremely grateful. This is the outcome we have all been hoping for, and it is the direct result of the hard work and perseverance of the investigative team.”
Comment from Premier Eby:
Premier David Eby posted on Twitter on Saturday evening July 29: “This is such a relief. Thank you to everyone, including members of the media, dedicated police officers and everyday British Columbians who came together to ensure these two children were found and brought to safety.”
===== EDITOR’S COMMENT:
Custody disputes between parents often end up with the children suffering the worst of it. In particular case, how does this family ever get past the mess of this crisis (their names and faces will be in the public domain forever)? Why does a mother become a potential criminal for wanting to continue raising her children? Keeping a family together (even if living apart) is a better goal than having the arm of the law reach into family well-being.
===== RELATED:
Amber Alert in BC: two children with mother, boyfriend & the mother’s father (July 21, 2023)