A local resident has been charged with child pornography offences following a Cyber Crime investigation.
Members of the Thunder Bay Police Service Cyber Crime Unit began an investigation in February 2024 after receiving information that a local internet user was suspected of uploading online material consistent with child pornography.
A search warrant was executed at a home on May 30 and multiple electronic devices were seized.
The suspect turned himself in to police on the morning of Thursday, June 13.
Austin Edward Grimes HALE, 30, of Thunder Bay, is charged with Possession of Child Pornography and Accessing Child Pornography.
HALE appeared in court on Thursday and has been released with conditions.
If you have any information that could assist investigators, please contact Detective Constable Joel Manherz at (807) 684-1200 ext. 4115. Tips can be submitted anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, online at www.p3tips.com. Reporting of any online exploitation can also be made at Canada’s National Tipline for Reporting the Online Sexual Exploitation of Children at cybertip.ca