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Vernon  

Farm search continues

UPDATE 5:10 p.m.

The massive police search at a farm on Salmon River Road may have to do with an incident earlier this year.

Last week, RCMP warned the public about an incident on Salmon River Road in which a sex trade worker was threatened by a man with a gun.

The incident happened in late August, and police warned the suspect may be a risk to public safety, especially to women on the sex trade.

The suspect met the victim through an online website used by sex trade workers.

According to court records, Wayne Sagmoen, born in 1980, has been charged with numerous offences, including disguising his face with intent to commit an offence, intentionally discharging a firearm, uttering threats, possessing weapon for a dangerous purpose and other offences.

A Canada411 search found Sagmoen's name connected to the property police are currently searching at 2290 Salmon River Rd.

Castanet spoke to a man who asked to remain anonymous who was told by police they were searching for a firearm.


ORIGINAL: 4:50 p.m.

As RCMP continue to search a farm on Salmon River Road, there is still no word on what they're looking for.

Police scoured the sprawling property for a second day, Friday.

Several officers with long sticks, shovels and rakes, were seen walking away from one of the several outbuildings, while two other officers entered another of the structures.

The farm also has some half dozen horses, and police removed at least one of those from a corral Friday afternoon.

Police from several detachments have been brought in to help with the investigation, and curious neighbours have been driving slowly past.

“I hope it's not another Pickton,” said one man in a pickup, referring to notorious serial killer Robert Pickton, who killed numerous women on his Lower Mainland pig farm.

Last year, three women went missing from the Yankee Flats area round the Salmon River Road farm. But a family member says police contacted him, and the search is not related to the missing women.

"This investigative effort and execution of a search warrant is in relation to an ongoing investigation," RCMP Cpl. Dan Moskaluk said Thursday. "No further information is being released at this time, in order to ensure the integrity of the ongoing investigation."



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