Mistakenly charged Portage man sues RCMP

WINNIPEG — A former Portage la Prairie resident who was beaten up and became a target for community vigilantes after he was mistakenly charged with sex crimes against children is suing RCMP, alleging there was clear evidence he was not the man they were looking for.

Scott Joseph Taylor, 35, was among seven people arrested and charged June 4, 2024, after a Long Plain First Nation woman was accused of befriending and luring teens into a room where they were coerced into performing sex acts in Portage between February and June.

Taylor spent three days in jail before he was released on bail and was later assaulted on the street and had the words “Certified Pedo” spray-painted on his home.

It wasn’t until July 19, 2024 that Mounties issued a media release confirming Taylor “was not involved in this occurrence” and that all charges had been stayed against him.

“The RCMP owed (Taylor), as a suspect, a duty to act as a reasonable RCMP officer in investigating a child exploitation ring,” but instead ignored “easily attainable” evidence he was innocent of the charges against him, Taylor alleges in a statement of claim filed in Manitoba Court of King’s Bench last week.

Taylor was preparing to leave his house to meet friends at a local shooting range when he opened his door to police, who forced their way inside and arrested him for “offences related to child sexual trafficking and human trafficking,” says the lawsuit.

Taylor was handcuffed and taken to a cruiser car while officers searched his home and seized his cellphone and firearms.

“At all material times (Taylor) had no knowledge of the aforesaid charges and denied to the RCMP any involvement in the activities,” says the lawsuit.

Taylor retained a criminal lawyer and through disclosure learned that the alleged victim had told police “one of the perpetrators” was named Scott Taylor, had a “significant beard,” worked at CNR and drove a company vehicle, and had lived with her mother until she kicked him out.

Taylor, says the lawsuit, had not worn a beard for 20 years, had never worked for CNR and had never lived with the alleged victim’s mother.

These facts “were easily attainable and verifiable, both prior to and immediately thereafter the plaintiff’s arrest,” says the lawsuit.

Taylor alleges police acted with “tunnel vision” and didn’t consider that he had a common name or that an accused may have provided a victim with a false name.

While on bail and before the charges were stayed against him, an acquaintance assaulted Taylor on the street.

“I was walking down the street and a guy I know saw me and beat the s—t out of me,” Taylor told the Winnipeg Free Press last year, shortly after the attack. “I had a couple friends help me so he didn’t kill me, thankfully.”

Taylor said after his arrest he was fired from his job as a truck driver. He has since moved out of town “out of fear for his safety,” says the lawsuit.

Taylor is suing police for general, specific and punitive damages, and alleges he suffers ongoing mental distress, anxiety and difficulty sleeping.

Taylor is accusing police of defaming and libelling him, alleging they failed to withhold his name “until such time as the RCMP took reasonable steps to confirm his identity.”

RCMP have not filed a statement of defence. In an email to the Free Press last year, a police spokesperson said all available information at the time supported charges against Taylor.

“In this instance, investigators followed all appropriate investigative steps,” a spokesperson wrote.

“As the investigation progressed, investigators determined one of the accused was not involved. Immediate steps were taken to have charges stayed, and to inform the public and the media.”

» Winnipeg Free Press