Police search for federal offender known to frequent Niagara area

Police are searching for a federal offender serving a life sentence for second degree murder after he breached his parole.

The Repeat Offender Parole Enforcement (R.O.P.E.) Squad says Douglas Spiers is known to frequent the Niagara area including Welland, Dunnville, and St. Catharines.

Spiers is described as a White man, 40-years-old, 160 pounds, 5-foot-10, with balding brown hair and hazel eyes. He usually has facial hair and wears glasses. He is formally known as Douglas Stokes.

He is serving a life sentence for second degree murder. Police say he served 12 years of his sentence prior to being eligible for parole in 2013.

Spiers is known to frequent Hamilton and Toronto as well as areas in Niagara, and police say he has ties to Vancouver, B.C.

Anyone who has had contact with Spiers or knows of his whereabouts is asked to contact the Provincial R.O.P.E. Squad at 416-808-5900 or toll free at 1-866-870-7673 (ROPE).