Couple facing child abandonment charges, after infant found in vehicle

An Edmonton couple are facing child abandonment charges after their infant child was discovered in a vehicle parked outside of a casino in southeast Edmonton Monday evening.

Southeast Division officers were dispatched to a casino near 70 Street and Argyll Road at approximately 7:20 p.m., Monday, Sept. 30, 2019, in response to a Child Welfare Act complaint.

Upon arrival, it was reported to police that casino security personnel had discovered a child in medical distress, approximately 18 months old, left alone in a vehicle in the casino parking lot. The vehicle windows were left open three-quarters of the way, which allowed security staff access to the cold child.

Investigators believe the child had been in the vehicle alone for approximately one hour.

The parents of the child were found inside the casino and were consequently arrested and charged by officers with causing a child to be in need of intervention and abandonment of a child.

Members of the EPS Child at Risk Response Team (CARRT) were also dispatched to the scene.

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Police investigate suspicious death following altercation

The Edmonton Police Service Homicide Section is investigating a suspicious death which occurred late yesterday evening.

At approximately 10:30 p.m. yesterday, Monday, Sept. 30, 2019, police were called to the area east of 99 Street on Jasper Avenue, by the Edmonton Convention Centre, on the report of an altercation in progress. Upon arrival, officers located a 34-year-old male who appeared to have been stabbed. The male was treated and transported to hospital by paramedics, where he succumbed to his injuries.

Homicide Section investigators have taken a 36-year-old male into custody, however no charges have been laid at this time. Police are looking to speak with anyone who may have been in the vicinity of the Edmonton Convention Centre late yesterday evening and witnessed the altercation.

An autopsy is being conducted today, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2019.

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Police seek additional complainants in vehicle odometer fraud

The Edmonton Police Service is seeking additional complainants in relation to the alleged sale of vehicles with rolled back odometers on buy-and-sell websites.

Two weeks ago, after inquiring about a vehicle that was listed for sale on Kijiji, the prospective buyer proceeded to do his own research. The buyer followed up on documentation that was provided by the seller, reaching out to the auction company where the seller had purchased the vehicle.

Through this process, he determined that the vehicle had been purchased at auction with a significantly higher odometer reading than advertised by the seller.

On Wednesday, Sep. 18, 2019, police began an investigation, and identified the seller as Bruce Mawer, 45. Mawer was subsequently charged with fraud over $5000 and uttering a forged document.

 

Bruce Mawer, 45

 

Information obtained during the investigation has led police to believe Mawer may have sold multiple vehicles with altered odometers on Kijiji and other buy-and-sell platforms, and are encouraging other complainants to come forward by calling EPS at 780-423-4567 or #377 from a mobile phone.

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Police seek assistance in identifying indecent act suspect

The Edmonton Police Service is seeking the public’s assistance to identify an elderly male in connection to a recent indecent act that occurred on an ETS bus.

It was reported to police that on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, at approximately 10 a.m., a young teen female got on the Route #3 Cromdale bus at 101 Street and 107 Avenue.

Shortly thereafter, the teen noticed an older male staring at her for several minutes. The complainant then looked at the male and noticed he was exposing his genitals.

The complainant left the bus at the next stop and reported the incident to police.

Investigators encourage anyone with information regarding the identity and/or whereabouts of this individual to contact the EPS at 780-423-4567 or #377 from a mobile phone. Anonymous information can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.p3tips.com/250.

Wanted: Male suspect who exposed
himself on an ETS bus Sept. 18/19

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Police charge man with sex assault against young girl

On Sept. 18, 2019, detectives with the Edmonton Police Service’s Child Protection Section charged Eyassu Tsige Genzebu, 60, with several criminal offences including sexual assault and sexual interference related to two incidents. 

Earlier in September, it was reported to EPS that an adult male attempted to lure a 13-year-old girl into his vehicle in the area of 118 Avenue and 124 Street. The male suspect was driving an older model minivan.
The girl refused to get into the van and the male eventually exited his vehicle. The girl reported that the male assaulted her by forcing her to the ground and sexually assaulting (groping) her. The girl was able to break free and run to safety. The male suspect was described as an older, black male.

The girl observed the same male suspect and vehicle eleven days later again in the same area. The male suspect again attempted to lure the girl into his vehicle. The girl recognized the male suspect from the first occurrence and was able to get away safely.

 

The EPS believes there may be other complainants or related incidents. The EPS encourages any other complainants or anyone with information related to this incident to contact the EPS at 780-423-4567 or #377 from a mobile phone. Anonymous information can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.p3tips.com/250.

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EPS seizes three web domains in online job scam

After becoming aware of an increase in reported employment scams involving fake job ads posted on the job sharing site Indeed.com, the EPS Cyber Crimes Unit has seized three Canadian web domains as part of an ongoing investigation.

In the typical employment scam, victims are led to believe they are applying for a real job. The hiring process appears legitimate, complete with professional-looking correspondence, including email signatures linking to websites that appear to be authentic. After being “hired,” the victims are often given a “cash advance” by the suspects, and later instructed to transfer all or part of the cash into bitcoin or another account.

Fake cheque “cash advance” sent to job seeker in employment scam

 

Letter sent to job seeker in employment scam

 

 

“In this particular scam, the suspects had copied a legitimate business’ website, replaced phones numbers with their own and were hosting these sites under .ca domains,” says Det. Phil Hawkins, with EPS Cyber Crimes Unit. “Once we became aware of this, we seized all three websites.”

 

This is the second time the Cyber Crimes Unit has seized  web domains, which not only helps encourage complainants to come forward, but also prevents future victimization.

 

“Within hours of the seized domain notice appearing, we had already received a call from someone who was in the process of being scammed,” says Det. Hawkins. “The complainant visited the website to check that the job offer he was pursuing was linked to a real company, and saw our notice there.”

 

Notice that appears on website seized by EPS Cyber Crimes

 

Cyber Crimes detectives note that employment scams are becoming increasingly common, and may take various forms. Some scams have been known to use real local companies as a front for their employment scam without the knowledge of the company.  One such scam came to light when Yardstick Technologies, a local IT company, discovered that their logo and company email address were being used in a job posting for an administrative assistant.

 

“Because the scammer was extremely aggressive and persistent, attempting to push applicants through the process as quickly as possible, many applicants felt it was out of character coming from a company like ours, and reached out to us to see if we were actually hiring for the position,”  says Nicole Hewson, Corporate Services Manager for Yardstick Technologies Inc. “Thankfully we were able to catch this scam early and report it immediately to EPS, to whom I was able to direct all potential victims.”

 

During the first half of 2019, the Edmonton Police Service received 93 reports of online employment scams totalling an overall loss of $240,925.83.

 

Online employment websites and social media platforms are aware of these scams and continually identify and remove fraudulent profiles and job postings. The EPS also works with financial institutions and job websites to maintain safe environments for users; however, it is important for job seekers to take the time to research the validity of the job offer.

 

Please see the EPS website for prevention tips and additional online employment scam details.

 

Anyone who has been a victim of this scam is encouraged to report it to police at 780-423-4567 or come into a police station. If you suspect a job posting or offer is fraudulent, but have not been a victim of the scam, please report it to the hosting website and to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.

 

 

 

 

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Police seek public’s assistance to identify carjacking suspects

The Edmonton Police Service is releasing surveillance images of two suspects wanted in connection with an Aug. 30 carjacking in northwest Edmonton.

It was reported to police that on Aug. 30, 2019, at approximately 11:30 a.m., a woman was sitting in her vehicle parked near 121 Avenue and 103 Street, when a white sedan pulled in behind her car. 

A female exited the sedan and approached her on foot, before requesting that she call a cab for her.

As the complainant was helping the female, a male exited the same vehicle, approached her and demanded the keys to her vehicle.

It was reported that the male then forcibly stole the complainant’s black 2009 Hyundai Accent and fled the area. The complainant’s vehicle was later located in Valleyview, Alberta, by the RCMP. Police are looking for assistance in identifying these two suspects (see photos below).

Police encourage anyone with information regarding the identity and/or whereabouts of these two suspects or the white sedan suspect vehicle to contact the EPS at 780-423-4567 or #377 from a mobile phone. Anonymous information can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.p3tips.com/250.

 

   

Wanted: Male and female suspects in connection to an Aug. 30^th carjacking incident in NW Edmonton.                                                                

 

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