Child porn charges laid after phone found at transit stop

EDMONTON A 28-year-old man is facing child pornography charges after police recovered a phone found at a northeast Edmonton transit station.

Police said on May 14, a person found the phone at the Clareview Transit Station and reported it to officers, who made attempts to identify the owner of the phone.

According to a Thursday news release, upon further investigation, police found evidence of child pornography on the device and commenced an investigation.

A search warrant was later conducted at the suspect’s home where police said they found several items that were taken for further investigation.

“We are grateful for the citizen who turned this phone into police, as we believe they ultimately helped us put a stop to this serious child abuse,” said Det. Aubrey Zalaski, with the EPS Child Protection Section, in the release.

“Child exploitation is a very grievous crime and in many circumstances, we rely on the public’s help to hold suspects accountable,” he said. “Anyone who suspects a child is being abused or exploited should contact police immediately, under any circumstance.”

The man has been charged with sexual assault, sexual interference, making child pornography, accessing child pornography and possession of child pornography.

Police are not providing the suspect’s name to protect the identity of the victim.

The arrest was made following a collaborative investigation between the Edmonton Police Service’s child protection section, ALERT’s internet child exploitation unit and the Zebra Child Protection Centre.