A Surrey Mountie has been formally charged with child luring, a month after a public sting by a Surrey vigilante group.
Dario Devic was the target of a Surrey Creep Catcher sting operation, undertakings to ensnare people who may be looking for the company of children.
The group, which had someone posing as a 15-year-old girl, arranged a meeting with the man at City Centre Mall on Wednesday, Sept. 7.
Devic was trapped by the group and filmed on video.
Dan McLaughlin, spokesperson for the Criminal Justice Branch, said Tuesday that Crown is pursuing a charge of child luring against Devic.
The officer was scheduled to be back in Surrey Provincial Court today (Wednesday).
Last month, the RCMP was quick to criticize the methods of Creep Catcher, while at the same time putting distance between Devic and the national police force.
RCMP Asst. Comm. Brenda Butterworth-Carr said in September the work of Creep Catcher is dangerous for those involved and circumvent due process.
“These are serious allegations that are subject to judicial process and it should not be about shaming,” Butterworth-Carr said.
Butterworth-Carr said at the time if the allegations are substantiated against the officer who has been arrested, the RCMP will be “taking steps to separate ourselves from this individual.”
