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A group of six boys are facing charges after allegedly assaulting and robbing several men.
According to the Regina Police Service, the teens met their victims through an online dating app.
“The suspects were posing as a 15 year-old boy during the online interaction and then filming the subsequent assaults with the intention to share on social media platforms as part of the ‘Catch a Predator’ online trend,” the police service explained in a statement.
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Police said the group of boys was involved in at least four alleged assaults over the past 11 months.
The first incident took place on April 24, 2024, when police officers were called to a home on Wascana Street.
“When officers arrived, they located a male youth holding a silver piece of pipe in the air, facing an adult male who was injured,” the police service said. “Officers were able to de-escalate the situation and take the first suspect into custody.”
The victim was treated for his injuries in a local hospital and released, the police service said, and an investigation revealed two other male suspects were also involved in the alleged assault.
A 15-year-old boy, a 16-year-old boy and a 17-year-old boy are all facing charges of aggravated assault in connection with that incident, the police service said.
The second case happened October 12, 2024, when a man arranged a meeting through the dating app.
“When he arrived at the proposed address in the 2200 Block of Edward Street, he reported being assaulted outside the residence by six or seven males wearing masks,” the police force said.
“The suspects also took alcohol from the victim before fleeing the scene.”
A 13-year-old boy, a 15-year-old boy and two 16-year-old boys are all facing charges of robbery and assault in connection with that incident, police said.
Then, on October 30, officers were called to a Regina home for a reported assault, where they found the injured victim, a 20-year-old man.
“The victim told police he had arranged to meet with someone he had met through a dating app. When he arrived at the location, a park in the 2400 Block of Elphinstone Street, he was assaulted by a group of males,” the police service said.
“The victim’s phone was smashed and his vehicle keys were taken. The victim was treated for his injuries in hospital and released.”
In that case, a 13-year-old boy, a 14-year-old boy, a 15-year-old boy and two 16-year-old boys are all facing charges of robbery and aggravated assault.
The most recent alleged assault took place on January 17. According to police, five male suspects entered a business on Elphinstone Street and attacked a male victim.
“Both the suspects and the victim fled the scene,” the police service noted.
“Police were able to locate two of the suspects nearby and, through further investigation, were able to link them to the assault. The suspects told police they had arranged to meet with the victim through a dating app.”
In that case, a 13-year-old boy, a 15-year-old boy and a 16-year-old boy are all facing charges of assault.
“The investigation is ongoing as police believe there are more suspects,” the police force noted.
“The Regina Police Service reminds the public that acts of vigilantism are taken seriously and when a crime is committed, charges will be laid.”
None of the teens can be named publicly due to provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.