UPDATED: RCMP suspends search for missing Crawford Bay teacher
By Nelson Daily Staff
Creston RCMP has confirmed that the search for missing person Alvin Dunic of Crawford Bay, BC, has been suspended.
The decision came Sunday afternoon (June 4) following seven days of extensive search efforts said RCMP Cpl Dan Moskaluk in a media release.
“Over the weekend, a total of 14 Search and Rescue Teams with 87 SAR technicians from across the province had joined the search including: Creston, Castlegar, Nelson, Rossland, Kimberley, Kaslo, Sparwood, Oliver/Osoyoos, Central Okanagan, Revelstoke,Elkford, Cranbrook, Penticton, Princeton SAR Teams and the Riondell Fire Dept.,” Moskaluk said in media release.
“Numerous resources from the RCMP included fixed wing aircraft and helicopter, Police Service Dog, Underwater Recovery Team and members from area RCMP detachments focused on the weeklong search. SAR techinicians including search dog teams and Swift Water Recovery were also utilized throughout the week.”
Moskaluk said during the weekend approximately 60 community volunteers from the Crawford Bay area participate in the search.
The community volunteers were organized by the Kootenay Lake School District and Crawford Bay School, following a groundswell of support for Dunic’s family.
To date no sign of Mr Dunic has been located and we have completed an extensive search of both ground and water in the area,” he said.
“It is estimated, that approximately 3300 total manhours have been logged this week by the collective group. The levels in Crawford Creek will be closely monitored over the coming days, and further search efforts will be re-assessed.”
Moskaluk said Creston RCMP and RCMP Victim Services continue to provide support to Mr Dunic’s family and the affected community.
More than 50 SAR technicians involved in search for missing Crawford Bay teacher
RCMP Cpl Dan Moskaluk said Friday that the search to locate missing person Alvin Dunic in Crawford Bay, BC, continues.
We anticipate having approximately 50 SAR technicians from the following teams over the weekend; Penticton, Trail Greater District, Nelson/Swift Water, Kaslo, Creston, Kimberley and Golden, along with participation of community volunteers from the Crawford Bay area, said Cpl Dan Moskaluk in a media release.
Moskaluk said Creston RCMP and area Search and Rescue Teams (SAR) are continuing their efforts to locate 57-year-old Dunic, who was reported missing on Monday May 29.
Moskaluk said Thursday, June 1, the search included 20 SAR technicians, SAR search dog team, RCMP Police Service Dog team and RCMP Air Services fixed wing aircraft.
He said five divers from the BC RCMP Underwater Recovery Team arrived on Thursday in order to expand the water search by searching the outlet of Crawford Creek into Kootenay Lake.
RCMP divers will utilize a towed sonar device and will attempt dives in the area. As the search enters its fifth day, no sign of Dunic has been located.
Search continues for missing Crawford Bay teacher
The search continued Wednesday for missing Crawford Bay Elementary teacher Alvin Dunic.
Dunic, 57, has been missing since he left Monday afternoon to locate a suitable location for a class project in the Crawford Creek area.
“We completed the third day of searching unfortunately with no success,” said Lou Coletti of Nelson Search and Rescue.”
“We’re going to be back again Thursday performing more of a thorough search of the area to see if we can locate Mr. Dunic.”
Coletti said between 40-45 SAR members from Castlegar, Creston, Kaslo, Kimberley, Invermere, South Columbia, Grand Forks, Nelson as well as members of the Riondel Fire Department and a few local volunteers have been involved in the search around the Kokanee Spring Golf Course and Crawford Creek.
Dunic, who left to scout out the location shortly before noon, was reported missing Monday when he did not return at 12:30 pm.
RCMP was alerted at 2:45 p.m.
Dunic’s vehicle was located by co-workers, parked in the area of Woolgar Road at the trail head to Crawford Creek near the Kokanee Springs Golf course.
After RCMP Police Service Dog from Nelson and Air Services, combined with Nelson Search and Rescue Team searched Crawford Creek Monday, Swift Water Rescue technicians were called out to assist with the search of raging Crawford Creek Monday night.
Tuesday, SAR teams conducted a grid-like search of the area around where Dunic’s vehicle was found.
Alvin Dunic is described as:
- Caucasian male
- 5’10”
- medium build
- with balding/dark hair.
- Last seen wearing a light coloured short sleeve shirt, khaki shorts and loafers.
Kootenay Lake School Board tweeted out Tuesday:
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Alvin Dunic, and the Crawford Bay School community.”
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