Police on Tuesday arrested a 17-year-old male connected to an ongoing investigation into the accessing and distribution of child pornography.
Members of the Thunder Bay Police Service’s Cyber Crimes Unit became aware a local Internet user was suspected of downloading child sexual abuse material in May of 2020.
Three local addresses were linked to this incident; however, further investigation by police identified a single suspect.
Search warrants were executed at two residential addresses in the City and District of Thunder Bay Thursday on Aug. 20.
During this search, investigators learned of the whereabouts of the male suspect. Police located the suspect at a residential address on the city’s north side and seized his mobile phone for further investigation.
As a result of this investigation, police located material consistent with child pornography. Police also learned material had been downloaded by the suspect and shared with other Internet users.
The 17-year-old male, of Thunder Bay, is charged with Accessing Child Pornography, Possession of Child Pornography, and Distributing Child Pornography x 2.
The youth was arrested in the afternoon hours of Tuesday, Aug. 25. He was released on an undertaking with conditions and a future appearance date of Oct. 1, 2020.
The accused cannot be named in accordance with the Youth Criminal Justice Act.