Police say they can't stop the spread of Pitt Meadows rave gang rape photos
METRO VANCOUVER -- Ridge Meadows RCMP today Thursday they were helpless in attempting to get photographs removed from the internet of what investigators called the appalling gang rape of a 16-year-old girl by seven males at a rave early Saturday.
"It's spreading like wildfire," said RCMP Sgt. Jennifer Hyland at a press conference.
"We are appealing to people to stop spreading this on the internet. We are trying our best to prevent the re-victimization of this girl," she said.
Hyland said anyone distributing the photos on Facebook or e-mail was guilty of disseminating child pornograpy.
"I've never seen anything like it, it's absolutely disgusting."
Photos of the alleged gang rape at the Pitt Meadows rave party began spreading on the Internet on the weekend, police say.
Police say the photos taken of the rape shows a number of assailants and could be used to identify some of them.
The youth who took the video and posted it on Facebook was arrested on Tuesday and is facing charges in connection with the rape and the production of child pornography.
On Monday, Ridge Meadows RCMP Supt. Dave Walsh said the private party was "attended by a large number of youth." Police learned of the incident Sunday.
“Since that time, our investigators have arrested one male, who is a young offender," Walsh said in a news release. "There were a number of entries on the Internet social network Facebook, which has aided our investigation. I want to publicly state that some of the Facebook comments about the sex assault victim being a willing participant are totally false. The medical and physical evidence we have point to the young girl being the victim of a sex assault."
RCMP Insp. Derren Lench said tickets for the rave were purchased in advance.
"This event was publicized on Facebook, and involves a number of youth in our communities of Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows," he said.
RCMP Insp. Derren Lench opened the news conference Thursday with the following opening statement about a rave in Pitt Meadows on Friday, Sept. 10:
Ridge Meadows RCMP are investigating complaints that stem from a RAVE that occurred on Friday September 10, 2010 on a property in Pitt Meadows. The complaints include allegations of a sexual assault on a young female by a group of individuals. It also centers around postings of photos of the sex act on the social networking site, Facebook. The photos, are child pornography, and our investigation is aimed at those aspects, as well as the sex assault.
We already know about the party goers having to purchase tickets in advance. This event was publicized on Facebook, and involves a number of youth in our communities of Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows. On Tuesday September 14, 2010, our Serious Crimes Unit arrested a male youth for his alleged part in the sex assault, and production of child pornography. This young man has been released, and we're pursuing criminal charges against him. We also have leads on others, and are actively investigating those leads.
It has now been brought to our attention that people are passing out the photos of the sex assault that are very graphic, and constitutes the distribution of child pornography. We are now investigating those allegations. We're appealing to the parents of the youths, or the youths themselves, who attended this RAVE to contact our office, so our investigators have a clear picture of what transpired at the event, as well as what occurred afterward.
Police also want to alert all parents of young persons about these types of events. RAVEs are connected with the over consumption of alcoholic beverages, as well as illegal drug use. Many young people have become very ill after attending these events, and often require urgent medical attention. Incidents of 'Date Rape' drugs, such as GHB and Rohypnol, have often been alleged to have been used. 'Date Rape' drugs refer to a drug that can be used to assist in the commission of a sexual assault, such as date rape. Drugs used to facilitate rape may have sedative, hypnotic, dissociative, and/or amnesiac effects, and can be added to a food or drink without the victim's knowledge. After consuming this type of drug, they would have the outer appearance of being quite intoxicated, but conscious, when in reality the victim is not able to function normally, and quite often will pass out into a state of unconsciousness. When under the influence of this type of drug, a victim would not be able to give consent to any requests, such as consenting to have sex.
We would like parents to be aware of these events, and to notify the police agency having jurisdiction where the RAVE is supposed to take place so we can take a proactive approach against the organizers, and better help protect our young citizens.
Sgt. Jennifer Hyland, who is in charge of the Ridge Meadows RCMP's Serious Crimes Unit and one of the lead investigators on this file, made the following statement at the same news conference:
I have been involved in investigating Sexual Assaults for many years. In that time I have never experienced anything like what is occurring in this investigation. The very Public discussion about this Victim and the taking and subsequent sharing of photos depicting this Rape is disgusting, morally corrupt and Criminal.
Make no mistake, this Girl was Raped, likely drugged, and abused by numerous people. Speaking as a woman, I cannot even imagine what this young girl is going through and has to live with, it is beyond words.
What happened after this incident and continues to happen is beyond Disgusting. These photos ARE child pornography. They have been viewed, shared, saved and re-posted numerous times. This is an offense and is so socially corrupt it is Sickening. The posting and viewing of the photos is continuing to Victimize this young girl and her family and needs to Stop.
This was a large party attended by a significant number of people- we know there are many eye witnesses to this sexual assault. These people need to come forward and do the right thing and ensure that those who did this are held accountable for their actions. Regardless of what some people Believe they were watching- This was a Rape.
This girl could have been anyone's sister, daughter, or friend and that's why I am appealing to anyone with information to come forward to Police.
© Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun
Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Police+they+stop+spread+Pitt+Meadows+rave+gang+rape+photos/3531151/story.html#ixzz0zjZ9VERS
*note from Bec.. .this is the most disgusting thing I have ever read in my whole life. Talk about triggering. I hope this poor young girl does not become a future generation of PTSD. My heart goes out to her.*
METRO VANCOUVER -- Ridge Meadows RCMP today Thursday they were helpless in attempting to get photographs removed from the internet of what investigators called the appalling gang rape of a 16-year-old girl by seven males at a rave early Saturday.
"It's spreading like wildfire," said RCMP Sgt. Jennifer Hyland at a press conference.
"We are appealing to people to stop spreading this on the internet. We are trying our best to prevent the re-victimization of this girl," she said.
Hyland said anyone distributing the photos on Facebook or e-mail was guilty of disseminating child pornograpy.
"I've never seen anything like it, it's absolutely disgusting."
Photos of the alleged gang rape at the Pitt Meadows rave party began spreading on the Internet on the weekend, police say.
Police say the photos taken of the rape shows a number of assailants and could be used to identify some of them.
The youth who took the video and posted it on Facebook was arrested on Tuesday and is facing charges in connection with the rape and the production of child pornography.
On Monday, Ridge Meadows RCMP Supt. Dave Walsh said the private party was "attended by a large number of youth." Police learned of the incident Sunday.
“Since that time, our investigators have arrested one male, who is a young offender," Walsh said in a news release. "There were a number of entries on the Internet social network Facebook, which has aided our investigation. I want to publicly state that some of the Facebook comments about the sex assault victim being a willing participant are totally false. The medical and physical evidence we have point to the young girl being the victim of a sex assault."
RCMP Insp. Derren Lench said tickets for the rave were purchased in advance.
"This event was publicized on Facebook, and involves a number of youth in our communities of Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows," he said.
RCMP Insp. Derren Lench opened the news conference Thursday with the following opening statement about a rave in Pitt Meadows on Friday, Sept. 10:
Ridge Meadows RCMP are investigating complaints that stem from a RAVE that occurred on Friday September 10, 2010 on a property in Pitt Meadows. The complaints include allegations of a sexual assault on a young female by a group of individuals. It also centers around postings of photos of the sex act on the social networking site, Facebook. The photos, are child pornography, and our investigation is aimed at those aspects, as well as the sex assault.
We already know about the party goers having to purchase tickets in advance. This event was publicized on Facebook, and involves a number of youth in our communities of Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows. On Tuesday September 14, 2010, our Serious Crimes Unit arrested a male youth for his alleged part in the sex assault, and production of child pornography. This young man has been released, and we're pursuing criminal charges against him. We also have leads on others, and are actively investigating those leads.
It has now been brought to our attention that people are passing out the photos of the sex assault that are very graphic, and constitutes the distribution of child pornography. We are now investigating those allegations. We're appealing to the parents of the youths, or the youths themselves, who attended this RAVE to contact our office, so our investigators have a clear picture of what transpired at the event, as well as what occurred afterward.
Police also want to alert all parents of young persons about these types of events. RAVEs are connected with the over consumption of alcoholic beverages, as well as illegal drug use. Many young people have become very ill after attending these events, and often require urgent medical attention. Incidents of 'Date Rape' drugs, such as GHB and Rohypnol, have often been alleged to have been used. 'Date Rape' drugs refer to a drug that can be used to assist in the commission of a sexual assault, such as date rape. Drugs used to facilitate rape may have sedative, hypnotic, dissociative, and/or amnesiac effects, and can be added to a food or drink without the victim's knowledge. After consuming this type of drug, they would have the outer appearance of being quite intoxicated, but conscious, when in reality the victim is not able to function normally, and quite often will pass out into a state of unconsciousness. When under the influence of this type of drug, a victim would not be able to give consent to any requests, such as consenting to have sex.
We would like parents to be aware of these events, and to notify the police agency having jurisdiction where the RAVE is supposed to take place so we can take a proactive approach against the organizers, and better help protect our young citizens.
Sgt. Jennifer Hyland, who is in charge of the Ridge Meadows RCMP's Serious Crimes Unit and one of the lead investigators on this file, made the following statement at the same news conference:
I have been involved in investigating Sexual Assaults for many years. In that time I have never experienced anything like what is occurring in this investigation. The very Public discussion about this Victim and the taking and subsequent sharing of photos depicting this Rape is disgusting, morally corrupt and Criminal.
Make no mistake, this Girl was Raped, likely drugged, and abused by numerous people. Speaking as a woman, I cannot even imagine what this young girl is going through and has to live with, it is beyond words.
What happened after this incident and continues to happen is beyond Disgusting. These photos ARE child pornography. They have been viewed, shared, saved and re-posted numerous times. This is an offense and is so socially corrupt it is Sickening. The posting and viewing of the photos is continuing to Victimize this young girl and her family and needs to Stop.
This was a large party attended by a significant number of people- we know there are many eye witnesses to this sexual assault. These people need to come forward and do the right thing and ensure that those who did this are held accountable for their actions. Regardless of what some people Believe they were watching- This was a Rape.
This girl could have been anyone's sister, daughter, or friend and that's why I am appealing to anyone with information to come forward to Police.
© Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun
Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Police+they+stop+spread+Pitt+Meadows+rave+gang+rape+photos/3531151/story.html#ixzz0zjZ9VERS
*note from Bec.. .this is the most disgusting thing I have ever read in my whole life. Talk about triggering. I hope this poor young girl does not become a future generation of PTSD. My heart goes out to her.*
