Calgary police are adding a new tactic to their ongoing search for an 11-year-old boy who has been missing since Thursday: Disney.
Acting Staff Sgt. Scott Guterson said officers are using information gathered from Parker’s parents to help find him.
“We know that Parker loves Disney music so recently we’ve had a police car play themes from his favourite Disney music in the area in hopes that may draw him out,” he said.
An Amber Alert was issued on Saturday for Parker. Normally, the 11-year-old’s disappearance would not meet the legal criteria for an Amber Alert, but the province granted an exemption because of the “unique circumstances of this investigation.”
Parker is neurodivergent and non-verbal and may become even more scared if confronted by strangers, according to police.
CCTV footage of Parker, who went missing from the Thorncliffe neighbourhood, has also been released. He was last seen at his day home in the 0 to 100 block of Connaught Drive Northwest sometime between 11:08 a.m. and 11:41 a.m. Thursday.
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Police say some clothing believed to belong to Parker was found around noon in the 0 to 100 block of Northmount Drive Northwest.
On Saturday, police said CCTV footage captured Parker on Thursday at 12:52 p.m. in the 5000 to 6000 block of Travis Crescent Northeast.
Guterson told reporters Saturday the distance between the two locations is about five to six kilometres.
Police said in an update Sunday that search efforts are “increasingly focused” on areas connected to Parker’s last known movements and reported sightings.
Officials say approximately 120 trained search volunteers are assisting with operations coordinated through Search and Rescue Alberta.
Officers are also conducting targeted searches, reviewing video evidence, canvassing communities and identifying and following up on new leads.
More than 300 Calgary police members have helped in the search effort and conducted door-to-door inquiries in surrounding communities.
About 50 hours of CCTV, residential security camera and dashcam footage has been reviewed, and approximately 90 tips have been received and reviewed.
Parker was last seen shirtless and wearing grey shorts and black noise-cancelling headphones.
He is described as being about four feet 11 inches tall and weighing approximately 90 pounds, and has brown hair and brown eyes.
“This search remains our highest priority,” police said in their X post Saturday night. “We’ll continue doing everything we can to find Parker and bring him home safely.”
Guterson said people can check their own properties for Parker.
“Don’t just have a look out your backyard, check under your deck, if you have a shed, don’t just open the door, move stuff around,” he said. “Parker is quite small, it’s entirely possible that he’s going to fit into an area that we wouldn’t normally expect a person to be.
“We’re asking people to check every nook and cranny they have on their property to help us try and bring Parker home.”
He added this could mean under RVs, under a face-down boat, and many other possibilities.
Parker is mobile, Guterson said, which means the public should do repeated checks as he may be in a location that he wasn’t two days ago.
The 11-year-old is also known for locking doors behind him, so Guterson said it is still worth checking even a locked shed as Parker could be inside but had locked the door.
Police also advised residents helping the search to take precautions against the heat and risks of searching, concerned they may require assistance themselves.
People are also asked to avoid areas police are already conducting their own searches.
Anyone with information about Parker’s wherabouts, or who may have CCTV or dashcam footage is asked to call police or submit it online.
–with files from Global News’ Rebecca Lau
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