The RCMP is defending its actions involving overnight entry into a home on the west coast last weekend.

The Pike family is upset that two officers came in through an unlocked door while searching for a missing teenager, as the family slept.

The officers ended up questioning their 11-year-old daughter in her darkened bedroom with flashlights in her face.

During a briefing Friday, RCMP Corporal Jolene Garland said police spent almost an hour knocking on doors and windows, and making noise in hopes of getting a response, but never did.

Garland says that only heightened concern for the officers, adding it was a balance that weighed in favour of going in.

She says while the RCMP can appreciate it was an “alarming” situation for the family, and they apologized twice for that, she says their “heads and hearts were in the right place” and that they had the authority to ensure the safety of the missing girl.

It was the second time in a day that 17-year-old Hailey Sheppard had been reported missing and was later located. The RNC had been searching for, and found her, hours earlier.