AG, MSP tells vigilantes to stop chasing predators

From our media partners at WOOD TV:

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — State authorities are telling a metro Grand Rapids man who confronts suspected sexual predators to stop what he's doing, saying "vigilante activity will not be tolerated."

"I strongly urge the public to leave this work to career professionals," a Wednesday statement from Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel read in part.

The Attorney General's Office told 24 Hour News 8 the statement was prompted by new videos posted online by Zach Sweers of metro Grand Rapids. Sweers has a YouTube channel called Anxiety War in which he posts videos of himself baiting sexual predators online and then confronting them in real life.

The statement from the Attorney General's Office and Michigan State Police says Sweers' recent videos have "escalated and demonstrated reckless conduct."

“It is reckless and dangerous for residents to take matters of law enforcement into their own hands. Not only does it put them directly in harm’s way, it actually hinders our ability to keep our kids safe and protect them from dangerous individuals,” Nessel's statement read.

Authorities say they can handle finding and convicting predators. MSP said that when average citizens try to catch offenders, they jeopardize prosecution because the evidence is questionable and may not be admissible in court.

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