The Edmonton Police Service’s Child Protection Section has charged a 28-year-old man in relation to an investigation involving a female minor.
On Monday, May 14, 2018, police were contacted by a citizen who located a phone at the Clareview Transit Station. The citizen reported the lost phone to Northeast Division and patrol officers made attempts to identify the owner of the phone.
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 residence and several items were seized for further investigation.
The 28-year-old male suspect is charged with sexual assault, sexual interference, making child pornography, accessing child pornography and possession of child pornography.
The Edmonton Police Service is not providing the suspect’s name in order to protect the identity of the victim. The Zebra Child Protection Centre is also providing support and assistance to the victim.
“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,” says Detective Aubrey Zalaski, with the EPS Child Protection Section.
“Child exploitation is a very grievous crime and in many circumstances, we rely on the public’s help to hold suspects accountable,” says Zalaski. “Anyone who suspects a child is being abused or exploited should contact police immediately, under any circumstance. We also encourage anyone who comes across child pornography, to report it.”
The arrest was made following a collaborative investigation between the Edmonton Police Service’s Child Protection Section, ALERT’s Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) Unit and the Zebra Child Protection Centre.
Anyone who has information about this crime is asked 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 atwww.p3tips.com/250.
The Edmonton Police Service Homicide Section is investigating a suspicious death following the discovery of a deceased male at the scene of a suspicious fire.
At approximately 3:30 p.m. this afternoon, Wednesday, May 30, 2018, EPS officers driving by a multi-unit residence in the area of 117 Avenue and 80 Street noticed smoke coming from the building. The officers immediately alerted the building’s tenants and contacted Edmonton Fire Rescue, who arrived within a few minutes.
A short time later, a deceased male was located in one of the building’s units.
Working alongside Edmonton Fire Rescue, EPS Arson Unit investigators have deemed the fire suspicious. The exact cause remains undetermined at this time.
Homicide detectives have now taken over the investigation into the suspicious death of the male.
There is no additional information available at this time.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked 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 atwww.p3tips.com/250.
The Edmonton Medical Examiner has concluded an autopsy on the body of a deceased 20-year-old male discovered yesterday in southeast Edmonton.
The ME was unable to confirm the cause of death of Mason Montana Landry, 20, pending toxicology results. Landry’s body was found yesterday lying in bushes in the neighbourhood of Gold Bar.
The investigation is ongoing. No further details are available at this time.
Anyone who had contact with Landry recently, or knew of his whereabouts over the last week, is encouraged 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 atwww.p3tips.com/250.
Every file is evaluated on a case by case basis. The EPS has decided to release the name of the deceased in this investigation for the following reasons: it serves an investigative purpose. Background:
Southeast Division patrol officers responded to an area near 103 Avenue and 42 Street in Gold Bar, at approximately 1 a.m., Monday, May 28, 2018, after receiving a 911 call from a resident in the area.
Upon arrival, officers were lead to the body of a male, which was found lying in some nearby bushes.
The Edmonton Police Service’s Tactical Response to Auto-theft Prevention (TRAP) team has charged 96 people with auto-theft related offences and recovered 100 vehicles so far in 2018.
So far this year, the TRAP team has laid a total of 457 charges against 96 individuals, solely in relation to auto-theft. The total value of the 100 recovered vehicles is estimated to be approximately $1.7 million.
“We continue to see a growing number of stolen vehicles involved in property crimes, home invasions and robberies across the city,” says Staff Sergeant Sid Kingma of the Economic Crimes Section. “The drivers of these stolen vehicles typically have little respect for the road, other motorists or police – in most cases, we’re seeing them drive recklessly to evade police, putting the lives of innocent citizens at risk.”
The TRAP team was launched on March 19, 2017 as the EPS noticed a significant increase in the number of reported stolen vehicles. Between March and December 2017, theteam recovered 221 stolen vehicles, made 187 arrests and laid 931 charges.
The TRAP team is a specialized unit which specifically addresses city-wide theft of motor vehicles, thereby focusing on the reduction of crime and victimization, while increasing public safety.
Below are some recent examples, as well as aerial footage, of crimes which involve stolen vehicles.
May 1, 2018 - Stolen vehicle involved in break-and-enter
On May 1, 2018 the TRAP team followed a stolen F350 from Edmonton to a rural property off Highway 16 with the assistance of the RCMP. When police flashed their lights, the F350 backed into a garage door and allegedly drove through a fence to evade police.
A short time later, police witnessed the same F350 at a property in the area of 52 Avenue and 50A Street allegedly committing a break-and-enter to a garage. When police arrived on scene, a male and female, both believed to have been in the midst of stealing another vehicle (Ford Escort), were taken into custody with the assistance of the EPS Canine Unit. Several identity documents, not belonging to either of the accused, were also located in one of the stolen vehicles.
Jeffrey Myles, 30,is charged with theft of a motor vehicle, criminal flight, possession of stolen property over $5,000, fraudulent concealment, possession of break and enter tools and other charges.
Christina Cherpak, 29,is charged with theft of a motor vehicle, possession of stolen property over $5,000 (x6), possession of identity documents (x2) and other charges.
May 2, 2018 - Stolen vehicle recovered with sawed-off shotgun
On May 2, 2018 police responded to the area of 74 Avenue and 96 Street on the report of a suspicious vehicle. Upon arrival, TRAP members observed a Ford Fusion which has been reported stolen. Police followed the vehicle and observed it driving aggressively, before parking in the area of 74 Avenue and Saskatchewan Drive. With the assistance of the EPS Canine Unit, three individuals were taken into custody. Police located a sawed-off shotgun in the stolen vehicle.
Dustin Orvis, 30,is charged with various firearm related offenses, possession of stolen property over $5,000 and disqualified driving.
Bradley Almas, 18,and Christine Goshko, 19, are both charged with breach of conditions.
May 3, 2018 - Stolen vehicle involved in collision
On May 3, 2018 at approximately 11 a.m., a stolen Grand Prix was travelling westbound on 121 Avenue at 40 Street at a high rate of speed when it struck a Ford Ranger that was travelling northbound on 50 Street. The female passenger of the Ford Ranger was ejected from the vehicle and then pinned under the truck. Edmonton Fire Rescue Services was required to extract the female passenger from the scene and she was treated and transported to hospital by EMS with serious injuries. The female driver of the Ford Ranger sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
The alleged 35-year-old male driver of the stolen vehicle remains under investigation. No charges have been laid at this time, however the investigation continues.
Damage to Ford Ranger following collision with stolen vehicle
May 16, 2018 – Stolen vehicle travelling at high rate of speed
Just after midnight on May 16, 2018, police attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a suspicious Dodge Caravan in the area of 97 Street and Yellowhead Trail. When members flashed their lights to conduct the traffic stop, the Dodge Caravan fled the area at a high rate of speed. Air1 assisted in monitoring the location and speed of the vehicle which was allegedly travelling close to 160 KM/hr in the area of 199 Street and Lessard Road. The driver eventually stopped for fuel when the TRAP team arrested the driver and passenger.
Cory Cloutier, 20,is charged with possession of stolen property over $5,000, possession of break and enter tools, dangerous driving and disqualified driving.
Koltyn Kittle, 20,is charged with possession of stolen property over $5,000.
Aerial footage from Air 1
The below video is a compilation of Air 1 footage from a variety of investigations, specifically involving stolen vehicles. The aerial footage demonstrates the potential dangers posed to citizens, when individuals are involved in the theft of vehicles. The footage also demonstrates the dangerous situations members are faced with on a regular basis, yet diligently trained for.
*Please note that this footage has been edited by EPS to protect the integrity of various investigations*
Below is statement from Chief Rod Knecht regarding his contract:
Over the past seven and a half years, I’ve seen the Edmonton Police Service become, what I believe is, the best police service in North America. I’ve worked with an outstanding group of professionals, both sworn and civilian, that strive every day to make Edmonton the safest major city in Canada.
As you all know, my contract ends on October 31, 2018. I released an internal message Wednesday afternoon to the entire Service, as I believed it was their right to hear first, directly from me, as opposed to learning of it on social media or otherwise. Given that any extension to my contract ultimately rests with the Edmonton Police Commission (EPC), I further wanted to respect their role of advising the community of the commencement of a search for the next Chief of Police. That occurred late yesterday morning.
As has been reported previously, the Commission and I have discussed the possibility of an extension to my contract. I provided them with correspondence outlining the rationale for the necessary timeframe required to further develop several initiatives that I would have liked to bring to a place of stability. These include:
Setting up a Cyber Crimes Strategy and increasing Cyber Crime investigative capacity for the Service;
Working with levels of government, philanthropists and the private sector in realizing a Community Wellness Centre;
Ensuring the successful launch of the Operations and Intelligence Command Centre (OICC) for the second quarter of 2019;
Seeing through two major capital projects including the Northwest Division Campus and new Administrative Building, during the first and second quarter of 2019; and,
Mentoring senior leaders to better prepare them to compete for the Chief of Police in mid-2019.
I also committed to assisting the EPC with the selection process for a new Chief of Police, which they anticipated to be up to a one-year process.
I calculated that to best advance these initiatives, and assist with the selection of a new Chief, it would take until the end of June 2019. This date was initially accepted by the Chair and Vice-Chair of the EPC, the week of March 26, 2018. Following a Commission meeting a few weeks later, they came back with a proposed contract extension to the end of March 2019. While my preference would have been to stay to progress these initiatives sufficiently, I didn’t believe that a five-month extension was enough time to adequately address them. I also felt it wouldn’t be in the best interests of the organization or the community to leave in the midst of such significant organizational change given that adjusted time frame. No other options were provided by the EPC, and as a result, I will be completing my existing contract, which concludes at the end of October, 2018.
Within the final five months of my contract, it is my intention to advance the Cyber Crime Strategy, continue work on the OICC, and continue to prepare the Service for Cannabis legalization. As well, I will work to prepare the organization for the transition to the next Chief of Police.
I am extremely proud of the many achievements of the Edmonton Police Service throughout my time as Chief of Police and the positive community support that I have experienced.
The Edmonton Police Service is investigating the homicide of a male in southwest Edmonton.
At approximately 1 a.m. yesterday, Thursday, May 24, 2018, Southwest Division police responded to reports of gunshots fired in the area of 111 Street and 23 Avenue. A short time later, it was reported that a 25-year-old male arrived at a hospital with gunshot wounds. The victim succumbed to his injuries in hospital at approximately 6 a.m. yesterday.
Homicide Section has deemed the manner of death to be homicide. Detectives continue to investigate. An autopsy has been scheduled for this morning, Friday, May 25, 2018, at 9 a.m. No further information is available at this time.
Investigators encourage anyone with information about this suspicious death 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 atwww.p3tips.com/250.
The Edmonton Police Service has issued arrest warrants for Ian Francis Whitford, 36, who allegedly breached her court-imposed peace bond.
The EPS Behavioral Assessment Unit issued four warrants for the high risk offender who failed to report to police.
Whitford, who is transgendered and goes by the name Leanne Whitford, is currently on the run and has four outstanding warrants for her arrest. Whitford is considered to be dangerous and should not be approached.
Whitfordis a convicted violent offender and the Edmonton Police Service has reasonable grounds to believe she will commit another violent offence while in the community.She is known to frequent the downtown area.
Anyone with information about Whitford’s whereabouts is encouraged to call the Edmonton Police Service Complaint Line at 780-423-4567 or the Edmonton Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or submit your tip online atwww.tipsubmit.com/start.htm.
The Edmonton Police Service is issuing this information and warning after careful deliberation of all related issues, including privacy concerns, in the belief that it is clearly in the public interest to inform the members of the community.
Warrants issued for High Risk Offender:
Ian Francis WHITFORD, 36
Also goes by the name Leanne Whitford
