A 21-year-old man has been charged with kidnapping, attempted murder and aggravated sexual assault in a "horrendous" attack on a six-year-old Alberta girl on a First Nation reserve.
Edmonton RCMP say James Clifford Paul was arrested on Sunday thanks to tips from locals.
"I want to point out that this arrest came about very quickly because local citizens picked up their phones and called investigators they need to take this dangerous criminal off the streets," Supt Gary Steinke, Officer-in-Charge of the RCMP Serious Crimes Unit told reporters Monday.
“Our focus now is on helping the victim’s family and community deal with the impact of this horrendous attack.”
Steinke said the girl incurred "very serious injuries" in the attack that occurred Saturday on the Paul First Nation, located approximately 60 kilometres west of Edmonton.
He said Paul, who was arrested at the nearby Alexis First Nation, was not a stranger to the victim.
"It was not an unknown predatorial attack,” Steinke said. “He was known to her."
Steinke said the girl, who will not be identified, is in serious but stable condition and has not regained consciousness. She is being treated at a hospital in Edmonton.
Shane Pospisil, the co-manager of the Paul First Nation, told CTV Edmonton that the girl’s family is receiving a lot of support.
“When an incident like this happens, whatever your internal strength is, you need the support of the community,” he said.
Paul, of no fixed address, has been remanded into custody and will next appear in court on Jan. 7.
A trust fund is expected to be set up for the little girl. Because her identity is protected, the fund will be in the name “Christmas Angel.”
With files from The Canadian Press
