RCMP says subjects of Amber Alert could be in South Dakota

The Saskatchewan RCMP believes the subjects of an Amber Alert are in South Dakota — and they may have been there for at least a week.

During a media conference at RCMP headquarters in Regina on Tuesday, Chief Supt. Tyler Bates said Mounties went to a house in Eastend on Aug. 5 with members of the Ministry of Social Services.

The visit was to check on the home’s residents — Leah Potts, her two children, and her common-law partner, Benjamin Martin Moore.

“I can confirm that evidence was discovered when the Shaunavon RCMP were asked to assist the Ministry of Social Services with an investigation relating to allegations surrounding Benjamin Moore,” Bates, the officer in charge of the Saskatchewan RCMP’s South District Management Team, told reporters.

“Before police were able to question him, Benjamin, Leah and the children had vacated their residence in Eastend. This led the ministry to seek an apprehension order for the children, which has in turn led to us issuing the Amber Alert.”

On Monday evening, an Amber Alert was issued for seven-year-old Luna Potts and eight-year-old Hunter Potts.

Asked why so many days elapsed from the time of the visit to the house to the Amber Alert being issued, Bates said it was a matter of waiting on the ministry.

“At the outset of this investigation, there was a well-being check that was taking place,” he said. “We found the residence vacated and it’s only since (Monday) evening that the request came from the Ministry of Social Services with respect to the apprehension order.

“Immediately upon that being obtained, the Amber Alert was sought and obtained.”

Asked after the media conference to comment on the investigation, the ministry issued a statement saying it couldn’t provide details of specific cases due to provisions in The Child and Family Services Act.

“Our primary concern is always the safety and well-being of children,” the statement said.

The children are believed to be with their mother and Moore, a 50-year-old man with a history of sexual offences against children.

The RCMP held a media briefing about an Amber Alert in Saskatchewan on Aug. 9, 2022. (Lisa Schick/980 CJME)

“We believe that Luna and Hunter are in danger in the presence of Benjamin Moore,” Bates said, “and we want to locate them as quickly as possible to ensure that they’re brought home safely.”

Bates said a warrant had been issued for Moore’s arrest on a charge of failing to report information to the Registration Centre within seven days after a change of main or secondary residence. Those reports are required under the Sex Offender Registry Act.

Moore is described as being 5-foot-10 and 200 pounds with black hair. He also uses aliases that include Hawk Smith and Ben Scutchings.

Bates said there wasn’t any evidence to believe Leah Potts was complicit with the situation.

Police already have received a number of tips about the group. As well, one person has reported a previous incident involving Moore that is outside of the current investigation.

Moore, Potts and the children may be travelling in a 2015 dark blue Chevy Equinox, with Alberta licence plate CGC 2492.

Bates said the RCMP is looking to extend the Amber Alert into South Dakota — which is where the Mounties believe the group is — and to other American jurisdictions.

“I can’t divulge the specifics or the investigative process that has established (they’re in South Dakota),” Bates said.

“Suffice it to say that we have reason to believe that they’re there and evidence that they’re within South Dakota, but I wouldn’t want to compromise the investigation by speaking about how we’ve obtained that information.”

On Tuesday evening, the alert was indeed extended into South Dakota.

Bates said it was important to have the Amber Alert in effect in Saskatchewan even though the group may be out of the province already.

Someone could have seen the four people as they left the province, he said, and they could yet return to Saskatchewan.

“If people have seen this group … on days previous, we’d be interested in the provision of that information as well and all of it will be helpful in helping us to locate and bring those children home safely,” Bates said.

Anyone who sees Moore, Potts, the children or the vehicle is asked to call 911 immediately or 1-877-762-6237 in Canada. Anyone in the United States who sees them can call 911 or 1-306-780-5563.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This story has been amended to show the RCMP attended the home in Eastend on Aug. 5; the Mounties corrected the date of the visit.