Suspects arrested after man attacked, forcibly confined in New Westminster, B.C.

A photo shows the back of a New Westminster police officer's jacket. (Twitter, New Westminster Police Department)

Police in New Westminster, B.C., say two people have been arrested after a man was reportedly assaulted and held against his will in an attempt to extort money from him.

A statement from police says officers received a 911 call around 1 a.m. on Jan. 29 from a man saying he had been attacked and forcibly confined by assailants who were demanding money.

“The caller believed the suspects livestreamed the assault,” according to the statement from the New Westminster Police Department, issued Thursday.

Major crime investigators and forensic detectives later collected evidence from the multi-family residence where the alleged attack occurred. Staff-Sgt. Jeff Scott told CTV News the incident happened in the city’s downtown core.

Days after the alleged attack, police identified three suspects, including two who were arrested without incident on Feb. 4.

Investigators believe the suspects and the victim were not known to each other. Only one of the suspects was previously known to police, Scott said.

The police department did not reveal whether investigators had seen the video that was allegedly recorded.

“At this stage in the investigation, I can’t speak to any evidence police have obtained,” Scott added.

In the statement, the spokesperson urged anyone who has witnessed a crime, “whether in person or online,” to report it to police.

“In this case, suspects were identified and arrested within days, thanks to our major crime investigators, who are among the best,” Scott said.

Both suspects were released from custody under court-ordered conditions while the investigation is ongoing.