Police arrested a man Wednesday who allegedly attempted to lure a child to a park in Richmond after communicating through social media.
Richmond RCMP say they were contacted by a person who said that a man had been communicating with her child via Snapchat. The person says her child was asked to “meet him at a local park” in Steveston.
The complainant “interceded and the man” and he was “detained until police arrived on scene” in the 4000 block of Moncton Street. Richmond RCMP have identified “additional youths with whom this man may have been in communication”.
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“We recognize there may be additional youth who have been in contact with this man. We are issuing this alert so that parents, youth and the community as a whole are aware that police are actively investigating this matter and encourage anyone with information to come forward,” says Inspector Michael Cohee, Officer-in-charge of Richmond RCMP Investigative Services,
“This investigation also highlights the importance of maintaining open communication with your children about their personal safety and use of social media.”
The man is known to “frequent parks in the Steveston area”.
He has been released by police with the following conditions:
- Not to communicate directly or indirectly, nor be alone in the presence of any person you know to be, or who reasonably appears to be, of the age of 18 years or less
- Not to attend to any park, public swimming area, daycare centre, school ground, playground, community centre, theatre where persons under the age of 18 years are known to be present or can reasonable be expected to be present
- Shall not accept or perform any employment or volunteer position which involves coming into contact or working with or supervising any person under the age of 18 years
- Must not use any computer network including the internet to communicate or attempt to communicate with any persons you know to be or who reasonable appear or represent themselves to be under the age of 18 years
The investigation into this incident remains ongoing.