Former RCMP constable caught in vigilante bust pleads guilty

A former Surrey RCMP constable caught in an online vigilante group’s sting in 2016 pleaded guilty Thursday to breach of trust.

Dario Devic was charged Sept. 16, 2016, with one count of communicating with a person under the age of 16 for the purpose of sexual interference or sexual touching, and one count of breach of trust related to his duties.

The first charge was later dropped.

He had been the target of a sting nine days earlier by the Surrey Creep Catchers, who describe themselves as “citizens who come together to identify online predators to the community.”

Mounties launched an investigation and two days later announced an officer had been arrested. He was later released on bail.

Staff Sgt. Annie Linteau said in an email on Thursday that Devic was discharged from the RCMP earlier this year.

“Given he is no longer a serving member there are no other RCMP internal processes underway,” Linteau said.

Devic’s sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 11.

He was investigated after the Surrey Creep Catchers gathered in a local parking lot to confront a man who had been communicating with a decoy working with the group.

In messages exchanged online, he had sent photos of a man wearing a police uniform and a man wearing a towel.

When he arrived to meet what he thought was a 14-year-old girl, members of the vigilante group used a video camera to live-stream the encounter near Central City.

In one video, which was viewed online more than 30,000 times, Creep Catchers Surrey chapter president Ryan LaForge can be heard walking up to the man and saying, “Officer —, how are you? Creep Catchers.”

Devic fled but was later arrested.