The president of the Surrey Creep Catchers, a group that claims to expose people they allege are child sexual predators, is facing three charges after two separate confrontations in April.
Ryan LaForge, 34, is charged with one count of assault and one count of uttering threats due to his involvement in a confrontation with a man in the 10100-block of King George Boulevard on April 3. The target was later charged with child luring.
READ MORE: Surrey Creep Catchers under investigation by B.C. privacy watchdog
A video of the confrontation was posted on the Surrey Creep Catcher page and showed LaForge shoving a man against a wall and using profane language. At the time, Creep Catcher Nicole Hunter said the alleged pedophile was arrested and LaForge was taken into custody for assault and released.
WATCH: The video posted by the group that exposes alleged child sex predators has generated more controversy over whether they’re going too far. Rumina Daya reports.
Then on April 19, Surrey RCMP responded to a similar confrontation between one man allegedly involved in child luring and three men believed to be involved with the Creep Catchers organization. Officers arrested two men at the scene — a suspect allegedly involved in child luring and 37-year-old Lance Loy from the organization. The two remaining men, one of which was LaForge, fled the scene before police arrived.
As a result of the second incident, both LaForge and Loy are charged with one count of assault.
Loy has been scheduled to appear in court on Thursday and a warrant for the arrest of LaForge has been issued by authorities. Police say a third suspect is being investigated for his part in these incidents.
WATCH: Surrey Creep Catcher in the news again
Creep Catchers is a loose collection of organizations across Canada that claim to expose people they allege are child sexual predators by posing online as minors before meeting in person to film and berate their targets.
The group claims to have outed several people, including a Surrey RCMP officer and a Mission elementary school principal.
WATCH: Surrey Creep Catchers are speaking out after posting a video showing them once again using physical force during one of their stings.
Law enforcement officials across Canada have repeatedly expressed concern about the groups, warning the public that confronting alleged child predators could put people in danger and compromise police investigations.
LaForge is facing multiple defamation lawsuits in British Columbia.
~ with files from Canadian Press
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