Affidavit: Group of men assault presumed 'pedophile' at Lakeway H-E-B
LAKEWAY, Texas (KXAN) — A bloody, swollen nose, bloody bare feet, and cuts on his limbs.
According to an affidavit obtained by KXAN, that's how Lakeway Police found a man who was assaulted by a group of five men. Police said the men filmed the attack at an H-E-B on Ranch Road 620.
That group of men are now being investigated, and charged with organized criminal activity, Lakeway PD said.
One of the men identified as a suspect in the affidavit is affiliated with a proclaimed online vigilante group called, "Dad's Against Predators" (DAP). This group, founded in Ohio, operates in several states, according to Lakeway PD.
The affidavit said Lakeway PD got a call on Sept. 27, in which witnesses said, several men chased a man "in the store and into the parking lot where there was a physical altercation."
The men called the man they attacked a pedophile. Lakeway police have since identified that man as a victim.
The men beat up the victim, punching him repeatedly and smashing his phone in an assault that lasted nearly five minutes.
"These are just law breakers who have taken the law into their own hands, and there's no place for this in society," Criminal Justice Associate Professor at St. Edward's University, Carsten Andresen said.
The video from the men -- identified as assaulters -- showed them leave a home together, and drive to the Lakeway H-E-B where they later assaulted the victim, according to the affidavit.
Police said in the social media video the men stated "they were going to f**k these pedos up," as they made their way to the grocery store.
An anonymous tip online led police to identify the men involved in the assault via their social media pages. The affidavit also revealed a similar incident happened at an Austin H-E-B store, but didn't say which one.
"It's dangerous, because…They're not going to restore public order, they're actually going to make this a very complicated, multi faceted criminal justice problem," Andresen said.
Lakeway PD said there's no known threat to the public, but condemned the violent actions.
“The Lakeway Police Department welcomes the public’s assistance in detecting and preventing crime, but does not condone acts by the public that are geared toward seeking out violent resolutions to possible criminal conduct. People often respond passionately to crime, particularly crime against children, but if you suspect someone is attempting to commit a crime, we ask that you call 911 so that officers can respond and investigate appropriately.”
Lakeway Police Chief, Glen Koen