A 25-year-old former youth summer camp director was arrested last week in Medicine Hat by the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team’s (ALERT) internet child exploitation (ICE) unit.
Police arrested Nolan Davidson on Sept. 7 and charged him with one count each of possession of child pornography and accessing child pornography.
Officers executed a search warrant on the accused’s home and seized a number of electronic devices. Those items will be sent to ICE’s forensic examination team and searched.
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According to ALERT, Davidson identifies himself as a former camp director at Eagles Nest Ranch. The youth summer camp is located in Cypress Hills Provincial Park, about 70 kilometres southeast of Medicine Hat.
“Currently, investigators have no evidence to suggest any offences were committed against any children who attended the camp,” ALERT said in a news release Monday.
The investigation began in November 2016 when the U.S. National Center for Missing and Exploited Children shared information about a social media user uploading child pornography. The National Child Exploitation Coordination Centre in Ottawa passed the case onto ICE.
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“It is with grave concern, sadness and surprise that Eagles Nest Ranch learned of the arrest of Nolan Davidson on child pornography charges,” the board of Eagles Nest Ranch (ENR) said in a statement to Global News.
It said Davidson served as director of the camp in the summer of 2013. The board reiterated it has no evidence to suggest any offences were committed against any children who attended the camp.
“ENR continues to place the highest priority on the safety and welfare of our campers and staff.
“ENR staff and volunteers undergo police and vulnerable sector checks prior to assuming responsibilities at camp,” the statement continued.
“ENR also requires its staff and volunteers to take part in a Plan to Protect seminar; training that equips staff to recognize abuse and follow procedures to close the gaps in security and eliminate any harm to the vulnerable sector.
“ENR strongly encourages anyone with knowledge of this investigation to contact their local police.”
Anyone with information about this investigation or any child exploitation offence is asked to contact local police or www.cybertip.ca.
For tips on how to recognize signs of child abuse, and other resources, visit the Sheldon Kennedy Child Advocacy Centre website.