Father of allegedly abducted Sask. 7-year-old in custody, girl is found safe in B.C.

A seven-year-old girl who was allegedly abducted by her father in November is reunited with her mother and her father has been arrested, according to Saskatchewan RCMP.

The girl's mother, MariecarJackson, had said Michael Gordon Jackson, 52,ofCarievale, about 290 kilometres southeast of Regina, took their daughterSarah in November to prevent her getting vaccinated against COVID-19.Sarahprimarily liveswith her mother in the capital.

A court order directing the fatherto return the daughter to her Regina home was issued last month.

Police thenissued a Canada-wide warrant, charging him with one count of abduction in contravention of a custody or parenting order.

Policeannounced Thursday that Sarah is safe and wasreunited with her mother.

Sarah and herfather werefound by police in a vehicle in aparking lot in Vernon, B.C., about 440 kilometres northeast of Vancouver, police said. They were found at approximately noon on Thursday.

The father was arrested without incident and will remainin custody before a court date in Saskatchewan.

RCMPSgt. Maj. Darryl Milo said it was a happy day at the RCMP headquarters in Regina.

Ongoing investigation

"Today we achieved the outcome we have been diligently working toward, which is reuniting Sarah with her mom," he said.

"We want to thank the many police officers from multiple police agencies in multiple provinces who assisted this investigation since November of last year."

The case remains under investigation, and it's possible anyone who assisted Michael Jackson could be charged, Milosaid.

MariecarJackson and her family have asked for privacy right now, Milosaid.