UPDATED MEDIA RELEASE:

Waterloo Regional Police have charged a Kitchener male as part of Project Steel, a nationwide operation to identify and apprehend those who prey on children.

In February 2025, the Waterloo Regional Police Service’s Cybercrime - Internet Child Exploitation Unit began an investigation into child pornography.

On April 16, 2025, as a result of the ongoing investigation, police arrested a 44-year-old Kitchener male, charging him with:

• Making available child pornography
• Possession of child pornography

The male was held in police custody for a bail hearing.

The Waterloo Regional Police Service is a member of the Ontario Provincial Strategy 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.

PREVIOUS MEDIA RELEASE:

Waterloo Regional Police Service’s Cybercrime Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) Team has charged three males as part of Project Steel, a nationwide operation to identify and apprehend those who prey on children.

Police services participating in the Provincial Strategy to Protect Children from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation on the Internet (Provincial Internet Child Exploitation Strategy), including WRPS, played a key role in this operation. Investigators worked proactively and reactively to identify individuals making, possessing and distributing child sexual abuse material. Victims were identified and safeguarded, and victim support was provided to those impacted.

Provincial Internet Child Exploitation Strategy results from Project Steel:

• 31 victims identified
• 20 children safeguarded
• 40 individuals arrested
• 151 charges laid
• 686 electronic devices seized

Locally, as part of Project Steel, between February 17, 2025, and February 27, 2025, WRPS ICE Team investigators completed five search warrants, seized 31 devices, arrested three males, and laid 18 criminal charges.

A 43-year-old Kitchener male was charged with 12 offences, including:

• Sexual interference
• Making child pornography
• Luring a child
• Sexual assault
• Indecent act

A 35-year-old Cambridge male and a 45-year-old Waterloo male were each charged with possession of child pornography and make available child pornography.

A 32-year-old male is currently wanted for two counts of possession of child pornography.

ICE Team investigators completed two additional warrants, one in Kitchener and one in Waterloo, for which the investigations remain ongoing.

Anyone with information on these or any child exploitation investigations is asked to contact police. Report any instances of online child abuse to police or www.cybertip.ca.

If a child is being harmed, call 9-1-1.

To learn how to keep children safe, visit the Canadian Centre for Child Protection or cybertip.ca.