RCMP adds tactical officers as search for six year old intensifies near Crowsnest Pass

Alberta RCMP and Search and Rescue Alberta said Friday the search for six year old Darius Macdougall is not scaling back and will increase over the weekend with added personnel and tools. 

At a virtual update, Cpl. Gina Slaney said sixty Tactical Support Group RCMP officers are now on site to supplement ground teams. Investigators continue interviews and logistical support for the family. The Municipality of Crowsnest Pass has opened a Community Support Centre at the Blairmore curling rink from 3 to 5 p.m. today as a space for residents to gather; officials asked media not to use it for interviews. 

Adam Kennedy, provincial training manager with Search and Rescue Alberta, said the average search radius is about five kilometres, with some route searches extending to approximately ten kilometres. He said about seven square kilometres have been thoroughly searched multiple times. Overnight work continued with an RCMP helicopter, dogs, and drones using infrared and night vision. 

“Approximately 120 personnel from Alberta and British Columbia remain on scene today, joined by new resources from Saskatchewan,” Kennedy said. To meet the needs of new terrain, horse search and rescue from the Greenview Search and Rescue Team is now deployed. As of today there are five drones in the air alongside RCMP Air Services. 

Kennedy said most ground searchers are trained volunteers who receive extensive SAR instruction. He added that crews remain optimistic, guided by statistical analysis and consultations with physicians on survivability in current conditions. 

Officials reiterated the search will not slow down over the weekend and that untrained members of the public should not enter search zones due to safety and the risk of disturbing clues. RCMP emphasized relying on official channels for accurate information and cautioned against misinformation circulating on social media. 

Slaney said daily virtual updates are planned at 2:30 p.m. through the weekend. She also noted the timeline indicates roughly one hour between the family realizing Darius was missing and the call to RCMP.