West Kelowna RCMP not laughing over Cat in the Hat prank

1 week ago 11

A blurry creepy security cam photo of a person in a Cat in the Hat costume.

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It’s not a fun game, and the West Kelowna RCMP do not like it, not one little bit.

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Police are investigating after a teenage girl was chased by an unknown person dressed in a Cat in the Hat costume in West Kelowna on Aug. 24. The girl was able to reach her home safely, but police are seeking to identify the person in the costume.

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“Regardless of whether the individual intended the behaviour as a joke, following a young person and causing them to fear for their safety is extremely concerning,” said Cpl. Devon Gerrits of the West Kelowna RCMP. “People should understand that behaviour intended as a prank can have serious consequences when it causes another person to reasonably fear for their safety.”

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Wearing a costume isn’t a criminal offence, but “following or pursuing another person in a manner that causes them to reasonably fear for their safety” could potentially constitute criminal harassment. Charges could be elevated to include assault, uttering threats or intimidation, if evidence supports them.

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West Kelowna RCMP is asking anyone with doorbell, security or dashcam footage from the 2000-block of Shamrock Drive on Aug. 24 at around 9 p.m. to contact them at 250-768-2880.

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If youth believe they’re being followed or pursued, they should find a safe, populated location and contact a trusted adult or call 911 if they’re in immediate danger.

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The incident in Kelowna comes after a similar one in Philadelphia went viral.

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Zymire Hughes, 22, is accused of terrorizing at least a half-dozen people while wearing a Chucky-style mask in Philadelphia in early August, including chasing one early morning female jogger and asking another if she was “ready to die.”

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He had fled Philadelphia after being identified, but was arrested in Las Vegas and returned to Philadelphia on Sunday night, where he’s being held on US$100,000 bail with charges ranging from aggravated assault to terroristic threats.

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The incident made headlines after an interview with one of the women he had approached, as she had kicked him in the chest and chased him off.

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