The RCMP in Saskatchewan and Alberta have arrested two men and rescued two children following a joint investigation between the Saskatchewan Internet Child Exploitation Unit (Sask ICE) and the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams Internet Child Exploitation Unit (ALERT ICE).
On June 24, Sask ICE obtained information of two men accessing cloud-based child pornography, sharing child pornography and discussing the sexual assault of children via social media. Sask ICE shared the information with ALERT ICE.
On June 26, Sask ICE and ALERT ICE conducted searches in Rocanville, Sask. and Red Deer, Alta. A number of electronics were seized and two men were arrested. The two children involved are now safe. The child rescued in Saskatchewan was turned over to family members, RCMP say.
In Rocanville, a 35-year-old man is charged with three counts of sexual interference, agreement to commit a sexual offence against a child, making, possessing, accessing and distributing child pornography. He is in custody at the Regina Police Service headquarters. He appeared in court on July 4 and is scheduled to appear again on July 11.
In Red Deer, a 40-year-old man is charged with incest, making arrangements to commit a sexual offence against a child, sexual assault, interference and exploitation, as well as making, possessing, accessing and distributing child pornography. He is in custody and will appear in Red Deer Provincial Court on July 17.
According to RCMP, a publication ban is anticipated and the names of the accused will not be released.
A previous version of this article reported that the children were in the care of children's services, the RCMP have clarfied that the child in Saskatchewan was turned over to a family member.
