©2024 Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT). All Rights Reserved.
Edmonton… Two men, convicted of separate child sex offences, have been charged by ALERT’s Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) Unit.
An Edmonton man previously convicted of sexual assault against a young child has been charged with possessing and transmitting child pornography.
In September 2022, ALERT’s Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) Unit received a tip from the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children.
On January 26, 2023 ICE’s executed a search warrant at an Edmonton home and seized several electronic devices. The Edmonton Police Service provided assistance with the arrest.
Marcel Ward, 40-years old of Edmonton, remains in custody and is scheduled to appear in court on February 9, 2023.
“In reading his conversations online, we believe he is at serious risk to reoffend. Many of his conversations included fantasizing and even boasting about the sexual assault he had previously committed,” said Detective Robert Wiens, ALERT’s Internet Child Exploitation Unit.
Ward was previously convicted in 2015 of sexual interference, invitation to sexual touching and child pornography offences.
In October 2022, ALERT’s ICE Unit began a separate investigation after receiving information regarding a man with a previous history of child sexual offences.
“It was pertinent that we thoroughly investigate the tip we received on this suspect, especially seeing his previous history of sexual offences on young people, which included sexually assaulting a young child who was known to him in 2014,” said Cpl. Dave Knight, ALERT’s Internet Child Exploitation Unit.
On February 1, 2023, David Hrushka, 49-years old of Edmonton, is now facing several child pornography related offences. Several electronic devices were seized from his residence and the investigation is ongoing. He has been released and is awaiting his next court appearance on February 22, 2023.
Anyone with information about either of these cases or any child exploitation situation is asked to contact their local police, or to report their concern anonymously at www.cybertip.ca.
ALERT was established and is funded by the Alberta Government and is a compilation of the province’s most sophisticated law enforcement resources committed to tackling serious and organized crime.
The work we do is about our communities, and that’s why we recognize that residents can be instrumental in tackling serious crime. If you or someone you know has been the victim of a crime, or you suspect criminal activity, please reach out. Your information will remain strictly confidential.
Thank you for helping to make Alberta safer by being actively involved and reporting suspicious activity.
