‘Missing’ girl pictured grocery shopping with her father

Patrick Derrick (pictured) left a home in Sandstone Point, north of Brisbane, with his two-year-old daughter on Sunday morning who is now considered missing

A man known to police who allegedly took his two-year-old daughter from her home north of Brisbane on Sunday morning has hit back against allegations the girl is missing. 

Police allege Patrick Derrick, 34, had an argument with a woman inside a home in Sandstone Point about 8.30am.

He then left with his daughter, who is of Caucasian appearance with brown eyes and shoulder length hair.

Mr Derrick wrote on his public Facebook page: ‘My daughter and myself are completely safe and I would never put her in harms way’.

‘The girl that is involved [in media reports of the missing girl] is my daughter she was not removed from her home, she was at a place where she was not in care of either her parents which I was unaware of and I was refused access to collect my daughter,’ he wrote. 

‘I forcefully opened the front door to collect my daughter as her safety will always be at first hand as that’s my obligation and forever commitment to my child.’

 

Mr Derrick shared a lengthy post to Facebook on Sunday afternoon alleging his daughter was safe and he had 'forcefully opened' a door as he had been 'denied access to his child'

Mr Derrick shared a lengthy post to Facebook on Sunday afternoon alleging his daughter was safe and he had ‘forcefully opened’ a door as he had been ‘denied access to his child’

Mr Derrick claimed his daughter’s mother had also verified the claim the young girl was safe, but she soon commented on the post to add her own point of view.

The woman claimed their daughter had been spending time with her grandmother when Mr Derrick charged in. 

‘Pat is a great dad and there is no doubt about that,’ she said.

‘Unfortunately he is wanted for other things that has [sic] nothing to do with the custody of our daughter and he has never ever been denied access to her.’ 

A spokesman for Queensland Police told Daily Mail Australia Mr Derrick was known to police, but was unable to comment as to whether there were any outstanding warrants for his arrest.

Soon after his first post, Mr Derrick shared a video of the young girl wearing a mask and riding a scooter through Woolworths. 

Despite both parents of the two-year-old appearing to agree the young girl was not in danger, a missing persons report filed for the toddler is still active.

The mother of Mr Derrick's daughter spoke up, claiming while the 34-year-old was a 'great dad', he was wanted by police on matters not pertaining to the custody of their child

The mother of Mr Derrick’s daughter spoke up, claiming while the 34-year-old was a ‘great dad’, he was wanted by police on matters not pertaining to the custody of their child

A spokesperson for Queensland Police told Daily Mail Australia officers were not able to close the case until they saw the child themselves, and Mr Derrick had not been contactable.  

‘Police are required to check on the welfare of the child to finalise a missing person report,’ he said.

‘We are continuing to try to contact the man so that we can sight the child in person.’  

Officers have released a picture of the vehicle Mr Derrick is believed to have been driving in – a blue 2011 Toyota Hilux utility with Queensland registration 464WGO.

The man is about 176cm tall, sporting short brown hair, and Caucasian in appearance. 

The pair are still believed to be in the Brisbane or Sunshine Coast areas, but police are concerned for the young girl’s safety. 

Anyone with information or who has seen the pair are urged to call police link on 131444 or crime stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Patrick Derrick and the mother of the child have both been contacted for comment. 

The pair were last seen travelling in a 2011 Toyota Hilux utility with Queensland registration 464WGO (pictured is similar)

The pair were last seen travelling in a 2011 Toyota Hilux utility with Queensland registration 464WGO (pictured is similar)

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk