Creep Catchers member facing criminal harassment charges

LACOMBE, Alta. — A member of a vigilante group has been charged with criminal harassment and mischief in an incident in central Alberta.

Chief Lorn Blumhagen of Lacombe police says the alleged victim had been communicating online with a person through a social media website for the past three months.

Police say the suspect used a false pretence to convince the person to meet in Lacombe, about 125 kilometres south of Edmonton.

The alleged victim was approached by a man wearing a hoodie who put a cellphone in his face and said he was being recorded and was busted by Creep Catchers.

Karl Young of Red Deer, also known as Carl Murphy, who is 37, has been released on conditions to have no contact with the alleged victim and not to access or use any computer or cellphone except for work purposes.

He is scheduled to appear in court in Red Deer on Friday.

Blumhagen says Lacombe police are continuing their investigation to identify a second suspect.

“In this case, police believe the victim was targeted online and lured into a situation by a person or group using vigilante-type tactics without justification or facts to support their claims,” Blumhagen said in a news release.

Creep Catchers are private citizens who post videos online to expose people they believe are seeking out minors for sexual activity.