A 12-year-old boy escaped from the car of an alleged abductor in Airdrie, Alberta, after he and a group of children attempted to confront the man as part of a so-called "catch a predator scheme" they organized on Snapchat. The incident occurred on the evening of August 18, when the boy entered the suspect's vehicle in the Coopers Crossing neighborhood, located just north of Calgary.

According to the Alberta RCMP, the boy and at least six other children, possibly up to ten, arranged the meeting without informing their parents. They aimed to expose the man as a potential child predator. "Unfortunately, it didn't go as planned," said RCMP Cpl. Gina Slaney. The boy entered the vehicle voluntarily so that the other youths could record the interaction.

Once inside, the suspect drove away. The boy managed to escape when the vehicle stopped at a red light and immediately called 911. The suspect fled southbound on Highway 2 toward Calgary. With assistance from a Calgary police helicopter, authorities later located the suspect at a residence in the city's northeast.

A 37-year-old man from Calgary has been charged with multiple offenses, including abduction of a person under 14, sexual interference, invitation to sexual touching, kidnapping, and forcible confinement. He also faces three counts of breaching a prohibition order. Cpl. Christopher Hrynyk from the Airdrie RCMP's specialized investigation unit noted that the suspect has a "history with police," and the breach charges relate to previous investigations involving minors.

Staff Sgt. Mark Auger from the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team's internet child exploitation unit stated that there have been multiple investigations involving this offender. He expressed concern over the trend of children attempting vigilante justice through social media, which has emerged from similar activities in the United States.

"In my opinion, this all came from the television program," Auger said, referring to the reality show that inspired these actions. He emphasized that unlike the show, which involved law enforcement from the start, these social media efforts are often amateur and can lead to dangerous situations.

"A lot of these setups and these stings will end in violence, in suicide, in sexual assault," Auger warned. He also pointed out that evidence gathered by vigilantes can complicate legal proceedings, as it may be considered tainted.

Police are urging parents to discuss online safety and behavior with their children. "It's amazingly dangerous what happened with this incident," Auger said.