A Calgary man’s appearance in court has been pushed back a week as he remains in custody after allegedly abducting a child who police said was attempting a “catch a predator” scheme.
Zain Alnoor Merchant, 37, faces nine charges, including luring of a child under the age of 14, sexual interference, invitation to sexual touching, kidnapping, forcible confinement and three counts of breaching a prohibition order.
Merchant was scheduled to appear in court in Airdrie on Thursday, but his appearance was postponed until next Thursday, Aug. 28.
He was arrested on Monday after police said he allegedly abducted a 12-year-old boy.
The boy and a group of at least six other children of a similar age arranged to meet a man as part of a “catch a predator” scheme to expose him as a child predator, police said on Wednesday.
Police said the children started a conversation with the man and agreed to meet him via Snapchat.
A 12-year-old Alberta boy escaped from the car of an alleged abductor after he and a group of other children planned a “catch a predator scheme” on Snapchat, according to RCMP.
Police said the boy allegedly entered the accused’s car voluntarily so the other youth could record the interaction on video, before the suspect drove away. The boy later escaped from the car while it was stopped at a red light, police said, and called 911.
Merchant was later arrested by RCMP at a home in northeast Calgary, with help from a Calgary police helicopter.
RCMP strongly discouraged the children’s plan, calling it “amazingly dangerous” and adding it presents “horrendous” challenges for prosecuting any alleged crimes.
Cpl. Christopher Hrynyk with Airdrie RCMP’s specialized investigation unit said on Wednesday that Merchant has a “history with police,” and the breach charges relate to “previous investigations which did encapsulate minors being involved.”
The man charged is not Zain Merchant, no middle name, who is a Toronto-based realtor licensed in Calgary.
