Durham Police said a male has been arrested after police received information the accused was planning to meet with a female residing in the United States to engage in sexual acts with her and her children.
On December 27 at about 10 am, members of the Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) Unit received information from the RCMP National Child Exploitation Crime Centre about a male who possibly resides in Bowmanville, planning to engage in sexual acts with young persons.
A conversation was intercepted on the MeetMe chat app, between the suspect, using profile name ‘That Guy’, and a female who resides in Pennsylvania, USA. The suspect and the female spoke about meeting this weekend and engaging in sexual acts on the female’s children, aged two and six. Sexual photographs of the female’s daughter were also sent to the suspect. Due to the exigency of the situation immediate steps were taken to identify and locate the suspect, said a police statement.
On Thursday, December 28 at about 6:30 am, members from Central East Division, the ICE Unit, E-Crimes Unit, and FIS executed a warrant at the suspects residence in the area of Aspen Springs Drive and Bowmanville Avenue in Bowmanville. The suspect was located inside the residence and taken into custody without incident.
The DRPS ICE Unit along with the RCMP are currently coordinating with our US law partners to investigate and take the appropriate action against the female party involved in this incident.
The suspect, age 42 from Bowmanville was charged and held for a bail hearing.
The Durham Regional Police would like to acknowledge the assistance of the Canadian National and Ontario Provincial Strategies to Protect Children from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation on the Internet. This project has been made possible by a grant from the Ministry of the Solicitor General.
Anyone with new information about this incident is asked to contact the Major Crime Internet Child Exploitation Unit at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 5521.
Man injures three police officers
A male was arrested after a struggle ensued between officers and a male outside a residence in Bowmanville.
On Monday, January 1 at about 2:20 am, members from East Division attended a residential address on Liberty Street North in Bowmanville after receiving information from paramedics, who were on scene treating unrelated individual, that a male had brandished a knife and exhibited aggressive behavior toward them.
Upon arrival, officers engaged in a conversation with the male outside the residence. However, the situation escalated as the male became agitated, ultimately lunging at one of the officers and assaulting him with punches to the face. A physical struggle ensued and the male was taken into custody. Three officers received minor injuries during the arrest.
The 42-year old from Bowmanville was charged and held for a bail hearing. Name and further details available at www.drps.ca.
Anyone with new information about this incident is asked to contact the Durham Regional Police at 905-579-1520.
Police recover stolen vehicle
A male and a female are facing charges after police utilized ALPR (automated licence plate reader) technology to locate a stolen vehicle.
On Sunday, December 31 at about 11:45 am, members from East Division were on general patrol in the area of Baseline Road and Liberty Street South in Bowmanville when they located a stolen vehicle utilizing ALPR technology. Both parties were arrested without incident. During a search incident to arrest officers located narcotics suspected to be Fentanyl in the possession of the suspects.
A female suspect, age 36 from Clarington was charged and held for a bail hearing. The other was charged and released on an undertaking. Name and further details available at www.drps.ca.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to D/Cst. Kapeluk of East Division Criminal Investigations Branch at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 5100.
Daylight break-and-enter
Police are looking to identify a male after a home was broken into in Oshawa on Friday, December 29 at about 9:30 am.
Members from East Division responded to a residential home in the area of Grandview Street North and Harmony Road North in Oshawa after the home owner reported that an unknown male entered the home and stole a large quantity of jewelry. He then fled from the residence on foot.
Surveillance images of the suspect have been obtained and police are appealing to the public for assitance in identifying the male.
He is described as male, Middle Eastern, 5’6” tall, black puffy jacket, light grey sweat pants and a toque. Images available at www.drps.ca.
Anyone with information about this investigation is asked to contact D/Cst. Duguay of the East Division Criminal Investigations Bureau at 1-888-579-1520 ext.1642.
Suspect identified in Hindu temple break-and-enters
Police said they have identified the suspect of multiple break-and-enters at Hindu temples.
Last October 8 at about 12:45 am, members of West Division responded to reports of a break-and-enter in progress at a Hindu temple in the area of Bayly Street and Krosno Boulevard in Pickering. A male was seen on security surveillance breaking into the temple and taking a large quantity of cash from the donation boxes. The male fled the area prior to police arrival. The male was seen on surveillance footage later that morning committing additional break-and-enters at Hindu temples in Pickering and Ajax.
Investigators have linked the same suspect to numerous other break-and-enters at Hindu temples throughout the year. These break-and-enters occurred in Durham Region and around the Greater Toronto Area.
Although these offences occurred at places of worship, they do not appear to be hate crimes or motivated by hate, police said.
The suspect, age 41 from Brampton is facing charges and was held for a bail hearing. Name and further details available at www.drps.ca.
Anyone that has any information about these incidents is asked to contact D/Cst. Aselton of the West Division Property Crimes Unit at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 2535.
A male was in custody following a car jacking at a parking lo in Ajax on December 23 at about 2:55 pm.
Members of West Division responded to a stolen vehicle in progress call at a parking lot in the area of Bayly Street West and Kitney Drive in Ajax. A male approached the victim after he returned to his vehicle from a local business. The male demanded the victim exit the vehicle and gestured that he had a weapon, said the police.
The male fled the area in the victim’s vehicle, before colliding with a tree a short distance away. The male attempted to car jack another driver who had stopped to offer assistance after witnessing the collision. The male was unsuccessful and fled the area on foot. Officers set up a perimeter, and with the assistance of the K9 Unit, Robbery Unit, and the Provincial Carjacking Task Force, successfully arrested the male a short distance away, after he unsuccessfully attempted to car jack a vehicle from a third victim whose car was idling in a residential driveway. The male sustained minor injuries and was transported to a local area hospital.
The suspect, age 20 from Toronto is facing 17 charges and was held for a bail hearing. Name and further details available at www.drps.ca.
Anyone with surveillance footage, dash-cam footage, or new information about this incident is asked to contact the Major Crime Robbery Unit at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 5355.
Uber driver sexually assaults passenger
Late in December, a Whitby man, 32, was arresed and is facing sexual assault charges.
On December 24, members from Central West Division responded to a sexual assault call in the area of Taunton Road and Garden Street in Whitby. The victim was sexually assaulted by a male driving for Uber as she was being transported back to her residence.
He was charged and released on an undertaking.
The accused may be continuing to offer ride sharing services under different transportation apps. Investigators are in contact with these companies, but want to ensure there are no further victims. In the interest of public safety, the name and an image of the accused has been posted and can be viewed at www.drps.ca.
Anyone with new information about this incident, or similar incidents involving the accused, is asked to contact D/Cst. Robinson of the Major Crime Special Victims Unit at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 1854.
Editor’s Note: Durham Post does not name or identify the accused as:
1. Of this time, they are suspect[s] and not convicted by a court, and
2. Sometimes charges are amended or dropped.