Local Resident Attempts to Lure Young Person from the US

On September 6, 2017, the Sarnia Police Service Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) Investigation Unit entered into an investigation regarding communication of an adult with a female minor for a sexual purpose on the internet. Members of the Sarnia Police Service ICE Unit received a call regarding this information from an officer from the Wood River Police Department in the State of Illinois in the USA.

Information received identified the suspect as residing in the City of Sarnia. On September 7, 2017, at approximately 6:15 pm members of the Sarnia Police Service ICE Unit along with other members of the Sarnia Police Service executed a search warrant at the suspect’s residence in the City of Sarnia. Officers seized computers and other related material to the suspected offences. A 24 year old male suspect was arrested on this date for possession of child pornography and breach of recognizance.

Currently the 24 year old male suspect faces charges for luring a person under 18 years of age by means of telecommunication, three counts of breaching his recognizance, and for possession of child pornography. Members of the ICE Unit continue to examine the evidence seized for any other possible victims that can be identified but at this time there is no indication of any local victims.

The Sarnia Police ICE Unit is a partner of Ontario’s Provincial Strategy to protect children from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation on the internet. This project has been made possible by a grant from the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services.