Misinformation spreading online about a missing boy with autism in Calgary is taking away resources in finding him, police said Monday as the search entered its fifth day.
Eleven-year-old Parker, who is non-verbal, was last seen Thursday at his care home in Calgary’s north end.Calgary Police/via The Canadian Press
Parker, who is non-verbal, was last seen Thursday at his care home in Calgary’s north end, and police have said foul play is not considered a factor.
Acting Staff Sgt. Scott Guterson said altered images and videos created with artificial intelligence have been shared online claiming to show the 11-year-old boy or providing information about his whereabouts.
One false report said the boy had been found dead.
“Obviously, it’s a massive waste of time and it takes away the resources that we need to find Parker and bring him home,” Guterson told a news conference Monday.
“The internet is a big, wild place and, as an organization, we don’t have the ability to stop bad information from going out. All we can do is ask people to put yourselves in the shoes of the family. What might seem like something funny for a few seconds can be absolutely devastating to the family.”
Calgary police also took to social media to ask people to refrain from sharing altered images of Parker.
He said the search continues. “We’ve had about 175 tips come in from the public that we are currently investigating,” he said.
An Amber Alert was issued for Parker two days after he disappeared. Disappearances do not meet the legal criteria for such an alert, but the Alberta government granted an exemption due to the circumstances of the case.
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Police have said Parker left the day home sometime between 11:08 a.m. and 11:41 a.m. on Thursday. Articles of clothing believed to belong to him were found nearby.
Shortly afterward, he was captured on CCTV footage without a shirt and wearing black noise-cancelling headphones.
More than 300 Calgary police officers have been involved in the search for Parker, in addition to 120 trained volunteers co-ordinated through Search and Rescue Alberta.
He also asked Calgarians to check their properties thoroughly, including garages, sheds, backyards, hot tubs, swimming pools, decks and other places where a child may seek shelter or hide.
“Anywhere where Parker could fit, we need the people to check and keep checking until we find him,” Guterson said.
He added that people should call police immediately if they find Parker, but he is not to be approached in order to not scare him.
“We are exploring all avenues, but at this point there is no evidence to indicate that anyone has taken Parker,” Guterson said.