Police search North York park for clues leading to missing teen
[attach]779[/attach]Police are scouring Earl Bales Park today in hopes of finding missing Forest Hill teen Mariam Makhniashvili.
Constable Tony Vella said that the Toronto Police are searching the park both on the ground and in the air with the help of an Ontario Provincial Police helicopter using infrared cameras.
The search began in the park, which is at Bathurst Street and Sheppard Avenue, at 9:30 a.m. for any clues that will lead them to the 17-year-old.
“There’s no information that’s been given to us that she might be here, but she’s frequented the park since her arrival in Toronto,” said Vella.
Mariam moved to the city from the Republic of Georgia in June. She was last seen on Sept. 14 at 8:50 a.m. by her brother, George.
When they arrived for class at Forest Hill Collegiate Institute, George went in one door, and Mariam was expected to enter through another.
Police have been holding assemblies at the high school, canvassing the neighbourhood and have release recent photos and videos of the missing girl in hopes of garnering any information about her disappearance.
“We’re doing everything possible in our attempts to locate her,” Vella said. “We’re urging the public, we’re asking that anyone that may have known her to contact the police immediately.”
Although police have received a number of tips, Vella said that it is still unclear what happened to her. At this point, they are classifying it as nothing more than a missing person investigation.
Mariam Makniashvili is described as white, five-foot-three and 140 pounds. She has brown, shoulder-length hair and brown eyes.
