Mounties warn against taking law into own hands following attack in Port Alberni

A man who is the subject of an investigation into child luring was injured in what appears to be an act of citizens dishing out punishment themselves, Port Alberni RCMP say.

Police were called to a house in Port Alberni on Thursday and found a 28-year-old man secured with restraints. Officers released him and took him to hospital for treatment.

“Preliminary indications are that the man was restrained as a result of vigilante actions,” an RCMP statement said.

The people who restrained the man could face charges of assault causing bodily harm and forcible confinement.

A man and a woman, who were not named, told CHEK News that they tied the man up when he came to their home to have sex with their 13-year-old daughter. A video posted to Facebook shows a man hogtied on the floor.

The girl’s mother said she punched the man when he showed up, while the girl’s stepfather said he tackled the man.

They said they had been in contact with police after finding messages that worried them on their daughter’s phone. The mother said she found out the man was coming to the home when she intercepted a message.

“Police want to stress that at no time should the public take the law into their own hands,” Cpl. Amelia Hayden said in a statement. “These are serious matters and police are investigating and taking appropriate steps.”