SEARCH FOR CRYSTAL METH ADDICT

A Kelowna man is clinging to hope that his 15-year-old nephew can be
rescued from the grips of a raging crystal methamphetamine addiction.

At the very least, he wants to warn others to watch out for
him.

John Martens saw real progress in his nephew when he came here roughly
eight months ago for a fresh start.

The youth had gotten into trouble in Winnipeg, Man., and was facing
allegations of selling crack cocaine at 14-years-old, he says.

"He was doing well, he got compliments from everyone. It took a few
months of drying out but eventually he could have real conversations,
not just one word answers. There were feelings behind it," he says.

He was playing hockey and other sports and working with Martens as a
cabinetmaker. But in the last few weeks, things began to unravel again.

The youth was arrested once for being in a stolen car and men with
guns showed up at his grand parents' home looking for him.

Martens convinced his nephew to get a blood test for drugs: It showed
high levels of metabolized methamphetamine and he took off.

Martens is certain that the 15-year-old has since broken into his
grand parents home in Peachland and stolen a number of items including
some guns.

Martens fears he may have been involved in a March 11 incident in
Peachland in which a young man invaded a home and fired a shotgun.

"We know he is hanging out in the area and with the guns stolen we are
really concerned that it could be him," he said.

"He is completely out of control. He told me to my face he is out
there stealing and said he was making his living doing it and whatever
he needs to do to get by."

He's been passing out posters to RCMP, Citizens on Patrol and in other
places describing him as missing "possibly held against his will by
crystal methamphetamine."

"I want people to look out for him and I want some help for him before
it's too late," he says.

"He is very dangerous to himself and I know against
others."

Martens has tried speaking with social services agencies, the police
and others, all with the same conclusion: there's nothing he can do.
Now, after their confrontation over the drug test results, he can't
even communicate with him.

"I put a lot of thought on how to get the message out to him without
him retaliating. I want to go take him fishing and make him OK,"
Martens says. "I want to see him play in a hockey game, I want him to
be normal and have a future. I don't want to go visit him in jail."