Cyber crime investigation leads to charges

February 5, 2026

TB25047433


A Thunder Bay Police Service investigation has led to charges.

The Cyber Crime Unit began the investigation on December 3, 2025, after receiving a report.

Officers identified a suspect who self-surrendered at the Thunder Bay Police Station on January 20, 2026.

As a result of the investigation, 19-year-old Kayden Southerland is facing the following charges:

• Sexual Interference
• Invitation to Sexual Touching Under 16 Years of Age
• Sexual Assault on a Person Under 16 Years of Age
• Make Sexually Explicit Material Available to a Person Under 16 Years of Age

The accused was remanded into custody after their first court appearance.

Anyone with information that could assist investigators is asked to please contact Detective Constable Joel Manherz at (807) 684-1200 ext. 4115.

Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, online at www.p3tips.com.

August 12, 2026
Understanding Police Response Priorities In July, 4,856 calls were logged. Of those, 2,987 were priority 1, 2 or 3. Every call for service is important, but not every call requires the same level of response. Calls are assigned a priority level from 1 to 9 based on the information available at the time, and that priority can change as new information is received. Priority 1 to 3 calls involve an immediate threat to life, serious injury, or public safety and require an urgent police response. Priority 4 to 6 calls require police attention but do not involve an immediate risk of harm. Priority 7 to 9 calls can often be resolved over the phone or through alternative reporting options. Some examples of the priority 1-3 calls received in July are: · Assault · Intimate Partner Violence · Mental Health Act · Robbery · Weapons · Break & Enter · Motor Vehicle Collision · Unwanted Person · Disturb the Peace · Person Welfare Check · Suspicious Person · Ambulance Assist · Theft · Animal Cruelty The volume and urgency of these calls highlight the important work of our primary response officers, who respond with professionalism and compassion to keep our community safe.  Did you Know? A Motor Vehicle Collision may be classified between priority 1 and 7. In general, a collision involving serious injuries, a fatality, criminal behaviour, or a significant public safety hazard will receive a higher-priority response than a minor property-damage collision where vehicles are safely off the roadway and no offences are apparent.
August 12, 2026
TB26031866 A Thunder Bay Police Service drug trafficking investigation has led to charges. On August 11, 2026, Intelligence Unit officers executed a search warrant at a home on Limbrick Street. Information received from the community played an important role in advancing the investigation. During the search suspected illegal drugs including methamphetamine, cocaine and fentanyl were seized, along with cash, and other items associated with drug trafficking. As a result of the investigation 44-year-old Jeffrey MCCARTHY of Thunder Bay is facing the following charges: · Possession for purpose of trafficking cocaine · Possession for purpose of trafficking fentanyl · Possession for purpose of trafficking methamphetamine · Proceeds of crime under $5,000 · Breach of Release Order Total street value of drugs seized is roughly $36,500. The accused was remanded into custody following their first court appearance.