Wasaga Beach, Ont., abduction suspects posed as police officers, struggled with victim
Investigators say they are looking for three suspects who posed as police officers before abducting a woman in Wasaga Beach.
During a press conference on Tuesday, the OPP said 37-year-old Elnaz Hajtamiri was taken from a home on Jan. 12 around 8:30 p.m. by three armed Black men dressed in police gear, but not actual uniforms, who claimed to be there to place her under arrest.
"Upon arrival, they [officers] met with the victims, and they learned that three males, described as Black males wearing police-issued gear, had attended the residence, identified themselves as police, and advised the homeowners they had a warrant for the victim's arrest.
The homeowner became suspicious, at which time they [suspects] overpowered him and abducted the victim," said Ontario Provincial Police Det.-Insp. Matt Watson.
Police said surveillance video captured three men fleeing the scene in a white SUV, believed to be a Lexus RX.
It remains unclear whether Hajtamiri and the suspects knew each other or why she was targeted.
Police said the woman's family is cooperating with the investigation.
"Investigators and the family of Elnaz Hajtamiri are concerned for her safety and well-being. The OPP is deploying all available resources to help locate Elnaz Hajtamiri and bring her home," police stated in a release Tuesday.
Hajtamiri, who also goes by the surname Tamiri, is five feet three inches tall, with a slim build and shoulder-length black hair.
Police launched a dedicated tip line and urge anyone with information to contact them at 1-833-728-3415 or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers.
Police also created the hashtag #BringElnazHome.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
House admonishes ArriveCan contractor in rare parliamentary show of power
MPs enacted an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power on Wednesday, summonsing an ArriveCan contractor to appear before the House of Commons where he was admonished publicly and forced to provide answers to the questions MPs said he'd previously evaded.
Leafs star Auston Matthews finishes season with 69 goals
Auston Matthews won't be joining the NHL's 70-goal club this season.
Trump lawyers say Stormy Daniels refused subpoena outside a Brooklyn bar, papers left 'at her feet'
Donald Trump's legal team says it tried serving Stormy Daniels a subpoena as she arrived for an event at a bar in Brooklyn last month, but the porn actor, who is expected to be a witness at the former president's criminal trial, refused to take it and walked away.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
Doug Ford calls on Ontario Speaker to reverse Queen's Park keffiyeh ban
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is calling on Speaker Ted Arnott to reverse a ban on keffiyehs at Queen's Park, describing the move as “needlessly” divisive.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.
Woman who pressured boyfriend to kill his ex in 2000s granted absences from prison
A woman who pressured her boyfriend into killing his teenage ex more than a decade ago will be allowed to leave prison for weeks at a time.
Customers disappointed after email listing $60K Tim Hortons prize sent in error
Several Tim Horton’s customers are feeling great disappointment after being told by the company that an email stating they won a boat worth nearly $60,000 was sent in error.