New Westminster police arrested two people after a man reported he had been assaulted – something he thinks was livestreamed.
At approximately 1 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 29, the New Westminster Police Department responded to a 911 call from a man reporting he had been assaulted, held against his will, and had money demanded from him. The caller told police he believed the suspects had livestreamed the assault.
In a news release, the NWPD said its major crime unit led the investigation. With the assistance of the forensic identification unit, New West police officers attended the multi-family residence where the alleged assault took place to collect evidence.
According to the NWPD, three suspects were identified within days; two people were arrested on Feb. 4 without incident.
At this time, investigators don’t believe the suspects and the victim are known to each other.
“If you have witnessed crimes, whether in person or online, we ask you to come forward,” NWPD Staff-Sgt. Jeff Scott said in the news release. “In this case, suspects were identified and arrested within days, thanks to our major crime investigators who are among the best.”
The investigation is ongoing, and the suspects were released with strict court-ordered conditions.
The New Westminster Police Department urges people to reach out to the police in their jurisdiction if they witness online crimes that they believe are happening in their community.
