Police warn against vigilante justice after alleged child sex luring and assaults
CBC
Calgary police have laid multiple charges after an online dating app was allegedly used by a group to pose as underage teens in order to lure and assault other men.
Officers have charged six men and one youth, including the alleged assailants and three purported victims. The matter has spurred police to issue a warning about "vigilante justice."
"Vigilante justice is never the answer and only serves to escalate violence and undermine the rule of law," said Insp. Keith Hurley in a Thursday news release.
Investigators allege four people used a dating app to contact men.
Police claim that during one meeting arranged online, four people confronted a man, assaulted him with a baseball bat and replica gun, slashed the interior and exterior of a vehicle and its tires, then left the scene.
Police say their investigation began on March 14, after one of the alleged victims reported an assault.
By reviewing surveillance camera footage, investigators say they identified a vehicle of interest. Police allege the same group committed two other assaults.
Two men and one youth are charged with aggravated assault, mischief over $5,000, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, robbery with a firearm and extortion.
A third man faces charges of aggravated assault, mischief over $5,000, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, robbery with a firearm, extortion and disguise with intent.
Three purported victims of the assaults also face charges for allegedly arranging to meet a minor for sexual purposes. All three are charged with child luring and invitation to sexual touching.
Police are also investigating whether the assaults were motivated by hate.
Hurley is asking anyone with information about suspicious activity to report it to the police instead of taking matters into their own hands.
All seven people facing charges are scheduled to appear in court later this month.
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