POLICE PUT VIGILANTES ON NOTICE
Warning of charges after social media witch-hunt
MEMBERS of a popular Toowoomba Facebook group have been told in no uncertain terms that vigilante justice will not be tolerated by police officers. The strong comments from detectives comes after a wave of users flocked to social media in a bid to track down a man they believe was behind an attempted child abduction in Kearneys Spring last week. Photos of the car the man was driving spotted across Toowoomba and his potential address were just some of the personal details posted online after the incident in the Kmart Plaza carpark. The wild reaction by wannabe online sleuths was prompted after a story published by The Chronicle detailed a mother’s recollection of how her six-year-old daughter was almost lured into the back of a car last Thursday. No one has been charged over the incident. Police are reminding members of the public that there are significant risks in engaging in vigilantism. “Anyone who tries to take matters into their own hands risks their safety and the possibility of criminal charges,” a police statement said.
The person who moderates the Facebook group in question is also asking for cool heads in the wake of the furore.
POLICE are warning users of a popular Toowoomba Facebook group to refrain from vigilante justice after a campaign was waged online to identify a man some believe tried to coerce a young girl into his car last week.
An address, pictures of a man in public and the location of a yellow car he was reportedly driving were among the personal details posted online on the back of a front page story by The Chronicle detailing the incident.
Detectives investigating the claims say anyone engaging in an online witch-hunt is risking their own safety and could face criminal charges.
“An investigation into these reports is ongoing, but police have been made aware of a number of posts on social media about this yellow vehicle and linking it to a particular address,” a statement released by QPS on Saturday read.
“While the investigation is ongoing, police would like to remind people that the best thing they can do to assist is to contact police if they have any information.”
Johnathan Crew, who runs the group in question, said moderating the discussion over the past few days had been “driving him nuts”.
A number of posts and comments with the revealing information have since been deleted.
“I am glad (users) are promoting vigilance but it doesn’t warrant six posts a day about this person,” he said.
“That’s exactly what I am trying to avoid, the whole sharpening of pitchforks and people getting in line.”
The online response was sparked after Sarah Lollback’s Facebook post detailing the incident went viral.
Ms Lollback claimed the man approached her six-yearold daughter at Toowoomba Plaza in Kearneys Spring, called her beautiful and told her to “hop in the car”.
Mr Crew said he did not want to be seen as taking sides, though removed content to protect users.
“I don’t want members of our group to be charged with anything,” Mr Crew said.
“If you take the law into your own hands you risk a criminal (charge), it’s pretty straightforward.
“Some people are using morals as an excuse, but the only people who know the story are those involved – he hasn’t even gone through due process yet.”
A police spokeswoman said no one had been charged over the incident.