DIDSBURY - Police have charged a 22-year-old Airdrie resident and American citizen with child luring following the man’s arrest in Didsbury early Tuesday morning, police said.
At about 4 a.m. on Aug. 1, Didsbury RCMP officers on patrol in downtown Didsbury stopped a vehicle for failing to stop at a stop sign, RCMP Cpl. Gina Slaney said in a release issued today.
“While in contact with the male driver, officers observed a female youth sitting on a bench 10 metres across the street from the location of the traffic stop,” she said
“The male driver advised officers he was in Didsbury to meet a female whom he was speaking with online.”
The officers then spoke to the girl who confirmed the driver was there to pick her up.
“The female youth confirmed she was communicating with male over an app,” she said. “The female youth advised she was not aware she was communicating with an adult and confirmed they were meeting up for a sexual encounter.”
Francisco Xavier Aguilar Serrano, 22, faces on county of child luring.
Following a judicial interim release hearing, he was released to appear in Alberta Court of Justice in Didsbury court on Aug. 28. As part of his release he is to have no contact with any person under the age of 16.
“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.”
