WINNIPEG --
Winnipeg police have ended an Amber Alert for a missing two-year-old.
Police said at 5:26 p.m., they were told the child's mother left a supervised visit with the child without legal authorization.
Police said after going over the situation and learning there was a chance that the mother was leaving the city, the Amber Alert was issued.
"We needed an identifiable vehicle and we had that,” said Const. Rob Carver. “We were certainly concerned that there was a potential for risk to the child's safety and those factors together led us to the Amber Alert decision."
At 9:10 p.m., police said the mother stopped at an RCMP detachment in Amaranth and talked with officers. Police said the child was safe and the alert was cancelled.
Carver said this was the first time the Winnipeg Police Service has ever issued an Amber Alert. He was asked why it took several hours before the alert was actually released, as the alert didn't come until shortly after 8 p.m.
He said it takes a lot to determine if one should be issued.
"We can't take these things lightly. We are putting the entire province on alert … it is reserved for only the types of situations where we believe there is a threat to the safety of a child."
Carver added that the mother received the Amber Alert and that led to her going to RCMP.
"I'm not saying there are charges, I'm not saying the mother was taken into custody. There's certainly an investigation that is going to follow."
Carver said this a traumatic situation for everyone involved from the mother and child, to the family and police.
Police thanked the public for the "incredible response" to the alert, with Carver adding police received several calls about the alert.
Carver said the alert ended the right way and there was a collective sigh of relief among police.
CTV News has removed the picture of the child and any identifying information because they are a minor.
