Cops say a convicted rapist who is HIV-positive is wanted for kidnapping a 10-year-old girl from Deerfoot Mall Thursday night.
A massive manhunt is now underway for John Francis Dionne, 43, of Linden.
Mounties said Dionne has a history of violence and sexual offences against females between the ages of 10 and 42 and has recently been diagnosed as HIV positive.
Cops say a 10-year-old girl became separated from her dad at the mall Thursday night.
The girl was then approached by a man who claimed he was a cop.
The Calgary Police Service says the kidnapper told the girl she was being accused of shoplifting and to come with him.
When the girl balked, the man picked her up and carried her to a waiting vehicle.
In a statement this morning city cops said: “The offender drove north out of the city toward Airdrie where he was pulled over for a traffic violation on Hwy. 567 by a member of the RCMP.
“At the time of the traffic stop, the girl had not been reported missing. The victim was sitting in the front seat of the offender’s van, but was so scared that she didn’t say anything to the officer. The offender was issued a ticket and drove away.”
Cops say the offender then took the girl to an Airdrie MacDonald’s where she was released.
“The girl called 911 and when the RCMP arrived told them she had been kidnapped from Calgary. The victim was taken to Alberta Children’s Hospital for a precautionary check,” said the CPS.
Canada-wide warrants have now been issued for Dionne charging him with kidnapping, child abduction, assault, robbery and impersonating a police officer.
He is 5’-feet 9-inches, 170 lbs., with brown hair and blue eyes. He has a tattoo of two dragons on his upper right arm.
Cops say Dionne is driving a 1997, green or turquoise-coloured Dodge Caravan with AB plate BBT 2981. This plate may now have been removed from the vehicle.
In October, residents of Linden, 100 km northeast of Calgary, reacted in fear when Dionne was released into their community.
At the time, Dionne told Global TV that he didn't want any trouble.
"I just want a fresh start," Dionne said.
"I have no intentions of hurting anybody."
At the time, RCMP Sgt. Patrick Webb said it's rare for police to issue such warnings when an offender is released but given Dionne’s past, which includes a conviction for sexual assault, cops felt the need to warn people.
"These are not done lightly and only when there is a risk to re-offend," Webb said at the time.
"If we believe there's the potential for re-offending and we're worried about the victimization of people, we feel they should be advised."
Dionne was released into Linden when charges of attacking a prostitute were dropped when she recanted her story.
He was charged after his accuser, a drug-addicted former prostitute, said she was picked up in Calgary's East Village on Oct. 28, 2008, and was driven outside the city where he forced himself on her for 10 hours.
During the trial, however, the victim recanted and said she lied about being raped.
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Child abducted from Deerfoot Mall by man posing as police officer
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Originally Posted by DonJuan
keep an eye out for your kids, 10 years old is too young to let roam free, for this exact reason.
