OPP and Ottawa Police Service Investigation Lead to Child Sexual Exploitation Charges

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, August 29, 2023   12:00 pm

(Ottawa) – Police have executed search warrants over a three-day period related to three separate child sexual exploitation investigations in Ottawa.

On August 21, 2023, Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), Ottawa Police Service (OPS), OPS Digital Forensics and OPS Tactical Team members executed a search warrant in the 1400 block of Prince of Wales Drive in Ottawa and seized a quantity of electronic devices. As a result of this investigation, Arash MALEKZADEH, 38 years old from Ottawa, was arrested and charged with two counts of Possession of Child Pornography, contrary to Section 163.1(4) of the Criminal Code.

The accused has been released after attending a bail hearing at the Ontario Court of Justice in Ottawa. His next court date is scheduled for September 28, 2023.

On August 22, 2023, warrants were executed in the 1200 block of Rideout Crescent and the 300 block of Terry Fox Drive. Several items and electronic devices were seized. The investigation is ongoing and charges are pending.

On August 23, 2023, the final warrant was executed in the 1-100 block of Mark Avenue. Marcus ALDRICH, 57 years old of Ottawa, was arrested and charged with Possession of Child Pornography contrary to Section 163.1(4) and Making Available Child Pornography contrary to Section 163.1(3) of the Criminal Code.

The accused was released after attending a bail hearing. His next court date is scheduled for September 19, 2023 at the Ontario Court of Justice in Ottawa.

A social media video related to these arrests can be found on the OPP and the OPS platforms.

The OPP and the OPS are part of the Provincial Strategy to Protect Children from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation on the Internet. The provincial strategy partners will continue to aggressively identify and pursue individuals who use technology to exploit children. Parents are reminded to take a proactive approach to help protect their children from online sexual exploitation by using the resources at cybertip.ca or protectchildren.ca.

If you have information regarding Internet child exploitation and wish to provide information anonymously, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or ontariocrimestoppers.ca. Reporting information may also be made through cybertip.ca.

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OPP Media Contact:     
Detective Sergeant Timothy Brown
Child Sexual Exploitation Unit
timothy.brown@opp.ca

OPS Media Contact:     
Media Relations Section
613-236-1222, ext. 5366  
media.relations@ottawapolice.ca   

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