RENFREW COUNTY (Pembroke) —Members of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Child Sexual Exploitation Unit, Digital Forensic Unit and Upper Ottawa Valley OPP Detachment have arrested and charged a Pembroke man following an investigation relating to the luring of a child over the internet.
In October, the OPP was notified of an unknown individual contacting a young person who had placed an online ad for employment purposes. The communication was sexual in nature and an investigation was commenced to determine the identity of the suspect.
On November 20, police executed a search warrant at a residence in Pembroke. An examination of computer devices revealed the presence of child sexual abuse material. As a result Tyler James Haskett, 31-years-old, of Pembroke, has been arrested and charged with the following Criminal Code offences:
- Possession of Child Pornography
- Sending Sexually Explicit Material to a Child
- Luring a Child
“The OPP will continue to aggressively identify and pursue individuals who use technology to exploit children. Child exploitation is everyone’s business and police cannot fight it alone. Everyone needs to know that these offenders operate amongst us and go undetected due to a lack of understanding. Everyone can make a difference by educating themselves about what child sexual exploitation really looks like,” said Staff Sergeant Sharon Hanlon, OPP Child Sexual Exploitation Unit. The accused’s next court date is December 10 at the Ontario Court of Justice in Pembroke. The investigation remains ongoing.
Police are asking anyone who may have information regarding this investigation or if you have information regarding internet child exploitation, please contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122. If you wish to remain anonymous you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or www.ontariocrimestoppers.ca. Reporting information may also be made on the internet through www.cybertip.ca.
Anyone interested in making a difference is encouraged to go to www.protectchildren.ca and download the “Child Sexual Abuse-It Is Your Business” brochure from the Canadian Centre for Child Protection. This is an important first step that can save a child. Parents are reminded to take a proactive approach to help protect their children from online sexual exploitation by speaking with their children regarding internet safety. Parents and anyone interested in protecting children can find resources to assist them at www.cybertip.ca.
