Human remains found in area where sex workers warned

PENTICTON — The police search of a rural property in the north Okanagan where human remains were found is taking place in the same area north of Vernon where the RCMP recently warned female sextrade workers of a possible safety risk.

The RCMP have not linked the search of the property in the 2200 block of Salmon River Road to the public warning they issued on Oct. 13, after they arrested a man in relation to an incident on Aug. 28 involving threats made to a woman.

Police say the woman met with the man in the area of Salmon River Road after setting up the meeting via a website used by escorts and sex workers.

When she arrived in her vehicle, police said, the man produced a firearm and threatened her, but the woman was able to flee the scene unharmed.

Cpl. Dan Moskaluk said 36-year-old Curtis Sagmoen was charged Oct. 17 with disguising his face with intent to commit an offence, intentionally discharging a firearm while reckless, uttering threats, careless use or storage of a firearm, pointing a firearm, possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose and possession of a controlled substance.

He remains in custody and is scheduled to return to court on Thursday.

It is not known if Sagmoen has legal representation and the Canadian Press has not been able to find a lawyer who is representing him.

None of the charges against him has been tested in court.

Moskaluk said a “heavy police presence” will remain at a property on Salmon River Road, about 38 kilometres north of Vernon, after human remains were found following the execution of a search warrant by police.

Moskaluk said information from the Salmon River Road property also led police to search roadsides, ditches and waterways about 15 kilometres north, near Highway 97B and Springbend Road.

The RCMP will not say who owns the property on Salmon River Road where the human remains were found.

Asked if the searches are related to the public warning, Moskaluk said he was not in a position to comment.

Five women have gone missing in the same area of the north Okanagan in the past 20 months.

Moskaluk said that as of Monday, police had not linked the search to any ongoing investigation.

A number of families involved in missing-person cases have contacted police in recent days, he said.

“We have reached out and communicated with a variety of families and provided as much information as possible that we can at this time with respect to their loved ones.”