The president of Surrey Creep Catcher, a group that claims to expose people they allege are child sexual predators, has been arrested, according to a message posted to the group’s Facebook page on Monday night.
The post claimed members of the group were confronting a man they allege was trying to meet a six-year-old girl and her mother. A video posted on the Surrey Creep Catcher page shows LaForge shoving a man against a wall and using profane language.
Creep Catcher Nicole Hunter said the alleged pedophile was arrested and then LaForge was taken into custody for assault.
On Tuesday, Surrey RCMP confirmed they responded to a call regarding allegations from two parties that included child luring and assault in the 10100-block of King George Blvd on Monday evening at 6:40 p.m. One person was arrested and later released. Surrey RCMP are investigating the allegations from both parties and did not release the names of the people involved or details of the allegations.
The person arrested was released on a promise to appear and no charges have been laid.
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In their statement to Global News, the Surrey RCMP reiterated their stance on vigilantism.
“The Surrey RCMP does not support, condone, or recommend vigilantism. Vigilantism, no matter how well meaning, does not involve police, and therefore is void of ongoing safety considerations. Vigilantism is a risk to the safety of all those involved including victims, or potential victims, the alleged suspects, and/or the safety of those persons intent on broadcasting the suspected crime.”
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.
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.
WATCH: Surrey Creep Catcher president speaks out about lawsuit
Last month, a Fraser Valley man filed a notice of claim against LaForge, saying he was identified in a series of false and malicious communications on Facebook suggesting that he was “involved in a scheme to procure sexual relations with an under-aged female.”
Earlier this month, a Campbell River man filed a notice of claim in B.C. Supreme Court alleging LaForge identified him as a pedophile in a series of public posts on Facebook.
None of the allegations have been proven in court.
– With files from Catherine Urquhart and The Canadian Press
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