Police had 146 "contacts" with a convicted sex offender suspected in the violent attack of a North Shore store clerk in the 147 days he lived in Kamloops, RCMP said Friday.

Supt. Yves Lacasse held a press conference to name Jack Samuel Froese as the suspect in the abduction and sexual assault of a woman who was working in a Tranquille Road adult boutique. The woman went missing from the store Wednesday afternoon. She was found, injured, several hours later on the doorstep of a Westmount home.

Froese was arrested early Thursday. He has been charged with kidnapping, aggravated assault with a weapon, sexual assault, uttering threats and theft of a vehicle. He remains in custody and is expected to appear in provincial court Monday.

Lacasse said the investigation of the North Shore abduction continues, and further charges are possible. He would not discuss the investigation other than saying all efforts were made to locate the missing woman as quickly as possible, using all the available resources at the local RCMP's disposal.

"Everybody did everything they could," he said.

Froese has a lengthy criminal history, including other crimes of sexual violence. Many of his convictions are from Saskatchewan and Alberta, including a 2004 incident at the University of Saskatchewan, where he was found with duct tape, pornography and a list of names of the school's cheerleaders.

Froese also served a 3 1/2 year sentence in prison for sexual assault with a weapon and uttering threats. He has a lengthy record for committing property offences and breaching court orders.

Lacasse said Kamloops RCMP were alarmed to see Froese move here in May after being released from a jail sentence. Officers took the unusual step of notifying the community of his presence.

As well, they endeavoured to ensure he abided by a strict court order governing his movement and activity. Froese was arrested twice for breaching that order and served 45 days in jail as a result.

Lacasse said his officers had 146 contacts with Froese during his 147 days in Kamloops, although he would not define the nature of the contacts. As well, squads conducted covert surveillance operations targeting Froese four different times.

"We cannot watch him 24 hours a day," Lacasse said. "That's impossible."

Lacasse added the victim was severely traumatized by the attack. He urged the media to leave the family alone and let them come together in order to help her heal.

rkoopmans@kamloopsnews.ca