is continuing their search for missing snowmobiler with the assistance of the Civil Air Search and Rescue Association (CASARA). Together they are canvassing the areas around Behchoko and Whati.
The Hay River detachment was notified of the "potentially missing" traveller just before midnight on Monday through a distress call made to police, but the caller was unable to provide an exact location, states a news release issued by Mounties late afternoon on Tuesday.
Mounties say the caller provided them with the name of 20-year-old Shawn Lafferty. They are now looking for that individual.
"Unable to confirm, he may be from Yellowknife or possibly visiting from out of the NWT," stated spokesperson Marie York-Condon in the news release.
It's unclear to law enforcement at this time whether or not it was Lafferty himself who made the distress call.
While the signal from the call was poor due to weather conditions, Mounties say officers tracked it to a cell tower near Behchoko. As a result, Mounties are actively searching areas around Behchoko and Whati, focusing their efforts on "areas with cabins," according to the news release.
Air and land searches, with teams on the ground, are being conducted.
Police state the area described by the caller could range from places including Yellowknife, Fort Providence, Hay River, Behchoko and Whati. , states the news release, is "coordinating efforts" between detachments in these communities as the search continues.
Police have no physical description of Lafferty available, but state the lost snowmobiler may be travelling on a blue 550 snowmobile and may be wearing a red hat and jacket, along with orange mitts and an orange scarf.
" are requesting the publicSA国际影视传媒檚 assistance with locating Shawn Lafferty, age 20. If anyone knows of a Shawn Lafferty in this age group, please call Behchoko at 867-392-111, your local detachment or CRIMESTOPPERS," state police.
SA国际影视传媒淲hile we have relatively little to go on at this point, we are asking the public to be alert to the possibility that a traveller may have accessed a refuge from the cold weather," states York-Condon.
"They could be on any of the trails between Yellowknife, Fort Providence, Behchoko, Whati and Hay River. The direction of travel is unknown, which hampers Search and Rescue efforts. We just want to hear from Shawn, if that is who called in, or whomever may have placed a call to the in distress just before midnight last night," wrote York-Condon.
Police are asking anyone who travelled in the area on Monday night or Tuesday to contact Behchoko with "any reported sightings of a single male travelling by snow machine."
Police also urge cabin owners in the area to advertise their location in case the snowmobiler is seeking shelter.
" will take all reported sightings to coordinate the launching of a targeted Search and Rescue if a point of departure and date and time last seen can be confirmed," states the release.
SA国际影视传媒淲hile we request the public to share information on this traveller, we do not want members of the public to start their own search," wrote York-Condon.
"The weather is very cold in these areas and we do not want people to be at risk in an unofficial search."
More to come.
