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Katie Poirier
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Seboe: We have witnesses that put him in this area. We know that the vehicle that we were looking for, the black pickup truck, is his.The 50-year-old man was arrested Sunday afternoon in Richfield as he returned from a Northern Minnesota camping trip with his family. The arrest was made by officers with the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the FBI. Seboe says the suspect has a lengthy criminal record, including multiple felony convictions for sexual assault. Seboe says he's confident the man in custody is the same person caught on tape forcing Katie Poirier out of the store.
Seboe: I feel good. I believe that we have the evidence. I believe we have the right person.But 19-year-old Katie Poirier has not been found. The sheriff's department combed the suspect's rural property, while BCA agents searched buildings. Agents also searched his Richfield home and uncovered potential evidence. Seboe wouldn't comment on what evidence may have been recovered. But he says the ground search for Katie is resuming.
Seboe: I've called out the National Guard again. I've asked the volunteers for help. I know the state highway patrol is sending in personnel. We're asking anyone that wants to help us search to come in and search.Governor Ventura responded by ordering 100 National Guard troops from Duluth to join the search. The state patrol provided 30 troopers.
Berg: The search area will be located east of Moose Lake on what's called the County Line Road. It's beyond where we ended the search previously. We're about 10 miles out of Moose Lake. Berg says it's important to find evidence of the missing girl.Berg: We're hoping to bring in the evidence - and hopefully Katie - if that's what it's going to be to bring a conclusion for the family. That's the big part, but also for us, because it's been a roller coaster out here.Several blocks away, Poirier's family and friends are redirecting volunteers to the official search, while winding down the family's effort to find Katie. Moose Lake's Hope Lutheran Church became an unofficial headquarters after the first ground search was called off. Volunteers, including one who called herself Teri, have renewed hope.Terri: I am so hopeful, and this family just needs some closure.Katie Poirier's parents were told about the arrest on Sunday. Katie's father, Steve, says he's not yet relieved by the news.Poirier: We still haven't found Katie yet. That's been our main goal: to find Katie. We'll worry about who did it after we find Katie. Yeah, there's a little hope, a little more hope today than the other day.The suspect has not provided any information to authorities, and is expected to make an appearance in Carlton County District Court Tuesday morning.