A man falsely linked to a child sex exploitation and human trafficking ring in a southern Manitoba city last year is now suing police, alleging they took too long to verify easily attainable information that cleared his name.
Scott Joseph Taylor, 35, was one of seven people charged by RCMP last year after an investigation that alleged teens were being lured into performing sexual acts on men in exchange for drugs and money in Portage la Prairie.
He’s now suing the RCMP and the Attorney General of Canada for alleged negligence, according to the statement of claim filed Friday at the Manitoba Court of King’s Bench.
Although the charges against Taylor were dropped about two weeks after his arrest, he says being linked to the trafficking ring led to physical and verbal abuse against him that included death threats, as well as the words “certified pedo” being spray-painted on his home, the suit says.
None of the allegations have been proven in court. Statements of defence have not yet been filed.
Taylor says he was getting ready to head to a gun range with friends on July 4, 2024 — five days before police publicly linked him to the trafficking ring — when Mounties banged on his door, according to the suit.
He was initially charged with unsafe storage of a firearm and obtaining sexual services from a person under 18.
Taylor was shackled and questioned at his local RCMP detachment, the suit says. He was detained at the station for about three days before he was released on bail.
Taylor learned that someone had identified a suspect named “Scott Taylor” to police, describing him as having a beard, being employed at the Canadian National Railway, driving a CNR truck, and having lived with her mother for a period of time, the suit says.
However, Taylor says he’s not had a beard for over two decades, has never worked for CNR or driven one of their trucks, never lived with the complainant’s mother, and did not associate with the other people charged — facts he says were easily attainable and verifiable.
There was no direct or reasonable evidence that linked Taylor to the trafficking ring, and the circumstantial evidence did not warrant his arrest or detention, his lawsuit claims, adding that his arrest, detainment and imprisonment by the RCMP were not legally justified.
Taylor says his lawyer informed a Crown prosecutor that the RCMP made a mistake, and provided them with a picture of Taylor so that it could be shared with the person who shared his name with investigators.
Charges against Taylor were dropped in court on July 19, 2024 — about two weeks after his arrest — but he says the Crown prosecutor and the RCMP “failed, refused or neglected” to drop the charges quickly enough.
He also claims he was intentionally confined against his will.
RCMP failed to consider the commonality of Taylor’s name, and that those involved in the kind of crimes he was charged with may not have used their real names with the victims, as well as other details that emerged from the person who named him, the suit claims.
RCMP used “tunnel vision” in its investigation of Taylor, his lawsuit alleges.
Taylor alleges police were negligent during in his arrest and detention, that officers acted aggressive and threatening toward him, and that police took too long to verify information provided which showed he was not involved in the trafficking ring.
He also accuses the RCMP of defamation and libel, saying he’s yet to receive an apology.
He had been clean and sober for three years before his arrest but began drinking again afterwards, Taylor’s suit alleges. He was later charged with his third impaired driving offence, which caused him to lose his job.
It has been difficult, if not impossible, for Taylor to find another job because of the publication of his name in relation to the trafficking investigation, his suit says.
He’s suffered grave emotional and psychological distress, as well as irreparable damage to his personal and professional life, and he had to flee Portage la Prairie to hide from the public out of fear for his safety, according to the suit.
Taylor’s seeking general, special and punitive damages, as well as damages for mental distress.
CBC News has reached out to the RCMP and Attorney General’s office for comment.
