Police were searching a municipal dump in northwest Calgary Wednesday in connection with the investigation into a missing five-year-old boy and his grandparents.
Calgary police confirmed to CTV News that officers were at Calgary’s Spyhill Landfill as part of the hunt for Nathan O’Brien and his grandparents, Alvin and Kathryn Liknes. Police did not say what led them to the landfill site, but officials said they will likely be searching all dumps in the Calgary area as the investigation continues.
Meanwhile, Douglas Garland, a person of interest in the missing persons case, made a brief court appearance via closed-circuit camera Wednesday on an identity-theft charge unrelated to the missing persons case.
CTV News’ Janet Dirks reported that both the Crown and Garland’s counsel agreed to his release, but Garland must remain in custody until he can prove he has a permanent address.
Garland’s parents’ property in a rural area north of Calgary has been the subject of a massive police search since last Friday in connection with the missing persons case, so Garland is unable to return there. He was ordered to be back in court on Friday to provide a new permanent address.
According to court records, Garland has a history of living under an assumed name and he spent time in jail for making amphetamines at his parents’ farm.
Garland was questioned by police over the weekend in relation to the missing persons case. But officers say he is not a suspect, and no charges have been laid against him in regards to the case. Police did confirm Tuesday that Garland has a connection to the Liknes couple – his sister is in a relationship with a member of the Liknes family.
The search of the Airdrie property continued Wednesday with several police units from Calgary police and RCMP on scene.
In a statement, Calgary police said Wednesday that due to hot temperatures, EMS has been called as a precautionary measures to support crews who are searching the Airdrie property. The Airdrie Fire Department is also on scene as a precautionary measure in case chemicals, which are common to farmland property, are located on scene.
Police are still asking property owners in rural areas outside Calgary to check their properties for anything suspicious.
Nathan and his grandparents have been missing since June 29. The Liknes had just wrapped up an estate sale at their home and Nathan stayed with them for a sleepover. When his mother went to pick him up the next day, all three family members were gone.
