Man reportedly kidnapped in Vancouver; police release video of victim
Police in Vancouver say they're investigating an alleged kidnapping in the city and have released surveillance video of the victim.
In a news release Monday, the Vancouver Police Department said they believe a 33-year-old man was kidnapped in the early hours of Sept. 24 near Oakridge Centre.
"We believe Jeffrey Lee was abducted by force and taken to an unknown location," said Sgt. Steve Addison in a news release.
"We don’t know exactly why he was kidnapped, but we know there are people out there who have information, and we’re asking them to come forward now."
In their news release, police said Lee was last seen by his girlfriend on Sept. 23 at about 10 p.m. Officers said he left her apartment in downtown Vancouver "to go gambling in the city's Oakridge neighbourhood." Police think he took a black BMW X5 and parked it near West 41 Avenue and Elizabeth Street.
At about 10:15 p.m., surveillance video from a nearby high rise shows Lee entering the building. He's then seen leaving just before 4 a.m. the next day. Police think Lee was taken while he was walking back to his car.
"The black BMW was located the next day with the driver-side door wide open, and we believe whoever kidnapped Mr. Lee did so as he was getting in his vehicle," Addison said.
"Although we’ve gathered a significant amount of evidence during the past four weeks and feel we are close to solving this case, there are still people with information who need to come forward."
These people may include those involved or others who know what happened, but could also be passersby who saw or heard something unusual.
Speaking at a news conference later in the day, the sergeant called it a "very concerning incident," which has been a high priority for the VPD.
He said the department has invested considerable time and resources in the case, but the investigation is still ongoing.
Because the case is ongoing, Addison said he couldn't answer all questions from media.
But he did answer a question from CTV News, albeit vaguely, about why police think the case is a kidnapping and not just an instance of Lee wandering off or choosing to disappear from his loved ones.
Addison said evidence gathered at the scene points to something more than in a typical missing persons case.
When asked if police think Lee is still alive, Addison replied, "We believe that something bad has happened to Mr. Lee… We believe that he was taken to an unknown location, and all of those details suggest that something very bad has happened."
Addison would not say whether police knew of Lee previously – saying Lee is the victim in the case "and that's what matters," – nor would he say whether they think the gambling is connected.
He also would not say whether there was any demand of a ransom.
Police said Lee was last seen wearing black shorts, flip-flops and a dark Hugo Boss hoodie. He had a grey shoulder bag with him and at the time of the alleged kidnapping he had short, black hair and facial stubble.
Anyone who saw Lee that night or has relevant information should call Vancouver police at 604-717-2541.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Indian envoy warns of 'big red line,' days after charges laid in Nijjar case
India's envoy to Canada insists relations between the two countries are positive overall, despite what he describes as 'a lot of noise.'
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
U.S. paused bomb shipment to Israel to signal concerns over Rafah invasion, official says
The U.S. paused a shipment of bombs to Israel last week over concerns that Israel was approaching a decision on launching a full-scale assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah against the wishes of the U.S.
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
Susan Buckner, who played spirited cheerleader Patty Simcox in 'Grease,' dead at 72
Susan Buckner, best known for playing peppy Rydell High School cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 classic movie musical 'Grease,' has died. She was 72.
Jeremy Skibicki has 'uphill battle' to prove he's not criminally responsible in Winnipeg killings: legal analysts
Accused killer Jeremy Skibicki could have a challenging time convincing a judge that he is not criminally responsible for the deaths of four Indigenous women, a legal analyst says.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
Alcohol believed to be a factor in boating incident after 2 men die: N.S. RCMP
Two Nova Scotia men are dead after a boat they were travelling in sank in the Annapolis River in Granville Centre, N.S., on Monday.