Man accused of attempted abduction has charges stayed

By Delon Shurtz on September 18, 2021.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com

A Lethbridge man accused last year of trying to abduct a young teenager is no longer facing a criminal charge.
During a brief hearing Friday in Lethbridge provincial court Crown Prosecutor Michael Fox stayed a single charge of attempted abduction against 22-year-old Heinrich Blanco.
A stay of proceeding means the charge is no longer being prosecuted, although the Crown can restore the charge within a year should new evidence warrant it. The reason for the stay was not given in court.
Last March Blanco pleaded not guilty to the charge of attempted abduction of a person under the age of 14, and the case was repeatedly adjourned while the Crown and defence met to discuss early case resolution. Defence had hoped to resolve the matter without going to trial.
Blanco was charged following an incident about noon on Aug. 31, 2020 when police responded to a report of an attempted abduction in the 100 block of Mic Mac Boulevard and Red Crow Boulevard West.
Police said the driver of a silver car pulled up to a 13-year-old boy and offered to give him a ride to the store to buy candy. The boy refused and the vehicle drove away.
Police investigators identified the vehicle and prepared a composite drawing of the subject, which, coupled with tips from the public, led to the identity of a suspect.

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