Police are asking parents to provide photos of their children as officers try to identify additional possible victims in an investigation into the alleged making of child pornography at a Mississauga camp.
Peel Regional Police announced Thursday that charges were laid against a Mississauga camp counsellor after a six-year-old boy was filmed in a washroom facility and officers believe there may be further victims.
Police said that between December 2022 and July 2023, it was reported that a six-year-old male victim was filmed in a washroom at MC Day Camp, located in the area of Hurontario Street and Lakeshore Road East in Mississauga.
Police said the boy was filmed by a camp counsellor, who has been a volunteer at the camp since June 2018.
The accused was also in the hiring process to become a police officer, which has since been terminated, Peel police Sgt. Sarah Patten said at an afternoon press conference. He was never employed with the force, she said.
On Wednesday, 26-year-old Mississauga resident Alexander Clarke was arrested and charged with voyeurism, possession of child pornography, making child pornography and making available child pornography.
Clarke was held for a bail hearing and attended court in Brampton.
“Our investigators have executed a search warrant at his residence and have found evidence to believe that there may be further victims,” Patten said.
She appealed to anyone who may know of someone who was a possible victim to contact officers.
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“We do know that he was a camp counsellor at this day camp since 2018 — that is a long time for any additional victims that could have been dealing with this camp counsellor in these circumstances,” Patten said.
Patten said the investigation began when the six-year-old victim approached his parents, who then contacted police.
She said investigators are “working tirelessly around the clock” on the investigation and have spoken to “numerous parents” who are concerned and are co-operating.
“Our investigators are asking that they do provide photos in order to facilitate any help in the investigation,” she said.
“We want to communicate to the public and to parents that communication is key in these circumstances. A child of that age or a young person may be involved in a situation and not understand the severity of it. So we want parents to communicate with their kids, talk about their teachers, talk about counsellors, talk about their friendships and hopefully bring out this information as early as possible.”
In an email to Global News Thursday afternoon, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) confirmed the accused is an employee of the agency.
“Given that this is an active police investigation, it would be inappropriate for us to comment or disclose any details,” a spokesperson for the CBSA told Global News.
Anyone with information can contact police at 905-453-2121 ext. 3490 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477.
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