A 22-year-old man was arrested and charged for child luring, says Didsbury RCMP.
At about 4 a.m. on Tuesday, Didsbury RCMP officers noticed “a suspicious vehicle” in the town’s downtown, police said in a media release on Wednesday.
The officers pulled the vehicle over after the driver failed to stop at a stop sign. While in contact with the male suspect, police saw a female youth sitting on a bench 10 metres across the street from the location of the traffic stop.
Police say the man told officers he was in Didsbury to meet a female he was speaking with online.
Officers spoke with the girl, who confirmed the man was coming to pick her up and that the two were communicating over an app.
The girl advised police she was not aware she was communicating with an adult and “confirmed they were meeting up for a sexual encounter,” the RCMP media release stated.
A 22-year-old man, who is a citizen of the United Stated currently residing in Airdrie, has been charged with child luring.
He was released after a judicial interim release hearing and is set to appear at Alberta Court of Justice in Didsbury on Aug. 28. As part of his release conditions, he is to have no contact with any person under the age of 16, said police.
“The awareness of our officers yesterday morning led to their intervention of a serious incident and prevented further offences from occurring, ensuring the safety of the female youth,” said Staff Sergeant Stephen Browne, Didsbury RCMP detachment commander.
“This is a serious reminder for parents or guardians to monitor social media access of their children, and to have those serious conversations about being safe while utilizing social media.”
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