Police have been searching the Elk Valley after a member of the public said she thought she had seen one of Canada’s most wanted criminals heading to Sparwood.
A woman in Cranbrook phoned the RCMP after two men in a car pulled up next to her outside Denny’s diner in Cranbrook on Wednesday last week and asked for directions to Sparwood.
When she got home and turned on the TV she recognized a man wanted by police as being the same man who had asked her for directions.
She believes the man was Cory Vallee, 34, who is wanted for gang related crimes in the lower mainland.
Sgt. Dave Dubnyk from the Elk Valley RCMP said they have not had any further reported sightings.
“We have been pounding the pavements for days,” he said. “We have visited all the motels and hostels with his photo and nobody has seen him.
“I think it is highly unlikely he is in the area so people should not get alarmed but he does have ties in Alberta so there is a chance he is passing through the valley.
“Perhaps he has a friend in the area who he is staying with.”
Dubnyk said if they did get any further leads the RCMP would put out a public notice.
The man was driving a small grey/blue four-door car with B.C. plates.
Anyone with information should call the RCMP at 250 425 6233.