Carmen Kados, an 11-year-old British Columbia girl who had been missing since Tuesday, was found alive but injured on Thursday morning.
Carmen Kados, 11, was found in Armstrong and appears to have remained in the immediate area the whole time she was missing. (RCMP/CP)
RCMP Cpl. Henry Proce said Carmen was being treated in a hospital in Vernon, 30 kilometres south of the girl's small hometown of Armstrong.
"She has sustained some injuries. They're not life-threatening at all," said Proce.
Carmen was found in Armstrong and appears to have remained in the immediate area the whole time she was missing, he said.
Proce said police have detained a man, but he hasn't been charged.
"We have a suspect in custody," said Proce.
Public 'instrumental' in finding suspect
Proce said the public was of "great assistance" and "instrumental in identifying and locating" the suspect.
Police were expected to give more information during a news conference later in the day.
Carmen was last seen Tuesday evening after she left her home to go to a video store to rent a movie.
The girl's mother called police when two hours had passed and she hadn't returned.
About 70 search-and-rescue volunteers fanned out through the community after RCMP found the girl's scooter, the movie Chicken Little and other personal items behind a cheese store only a block from the video outlet.
Two RCMP dog teams and a police helicopter were enlisted in the search.
The RCMP had also organized search-and-rescue groups to go door-to-door through the rural community of about 3,000.
No Amber Alert could be issued, as is usual in cases of missing children, because nobody had a description of any suspect vehicle.
That's one of the strict criteria involved when police must decide whether to issue such an alert.
'You don't expect it to happen here'
The incident shocked parents like Sherry Marshall, who has three young children of her own.
"Everybody's a little scared right now. You don't expect it to happen here … that's why you live in a small town."
Proce said he hopes parents can breathe a little easier now.
"Hopefully this is a one-time affair and it'll never happen again," he said.