Sexual predator targeting local teen boys

By Kyra Hoggan

Police are warning parents of a sexual predator who is using Facebook to target local boys.

Trail RCMP Cpl. Mike Wilson said police have heard two complaints in which the offender sends a friend request to males around the age of 13, and if they don't accept, threatens to beat them up.

Once added, the offender makes sexual remarks and, in some cases, asks the boys to remove their clothing in front of a webcam.

"We don't know if he's local - we don't even know if it's a 'he'," said Wilson. "This is a very new investigation."

He added that, while two people have come forward, the scope of this offender's activity could be much greater.

"When it's the Internet, there's potentially a lot of people involved," he said. "Especially since we're dealing with a youth population, it's really important that anyone experiencing this comes forward."

He said police are trying to determine whether there's a way to find this person via the Internet, but in the meantime asks parents to "be mindful of their children's Internet useage".

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Trail RCMP at 250-364-2566.