A Woodville, Ont., child is undergoing treatment for serious injuries at the Hospital for Sick Children after being taken from an arena's washroom and assaulted, the Ontario Provincial Police said Tuesday.
"At approximately 6:30 p.m. (Monday), the female victim had entered a washroom in the Woodville arena," police said in a news release about the incident in the small community about a half-hour drive northwest of Kawartha Lakes.
"Several minutes later a family member attempted to enter the washroom but found the door locked."
The family summoned an arena employee, who opened the door. But the child wasn't inside, police said.
"Moments later the victim was located in a field adjacent to the arena," they said.
Investigators think the suspect removed the child through a side washroom exit, the OPP said.
The girl was taken first to Ross Memorial hospital in Lindsay but was then transferred to Sick Kids in Toronto.
"The OPP is reminding the public to be aware of their personal safety and that of their children at all times," police said. "Children should not be left unattended anywhere when out in public."
OPP Const. Mark Boileau told CTV News on Tuesday that not much has changed since they issued the news release.
"Additional resources have been brought into the detachment to assist with the investigation, and we obviously have officers out canvassing the area," he said.
They are looking for potential witnesses who can help them identify the suspect, Boileau said.
People who have information can call the City of Kawartha Lakes OPP at 1-888-310-1122. They can also send it anonymously by telephoning Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or at the www.khcs.ca website.
