Calgary man charged with encouraging suicide, extortion of 11-year-old Ontario girl, police say
A Calgary man faces numerous charges after police say that he had been sending a young Ontario girl sexual and violent messages through her various social media channels for years.
The investigation started six months ago, when a teenage girl reported to police that she was being extorted and harassed online, that it had been going on for five years and began when she was only 11 years old.
The messages were both sexual and violent in nature with the suspect allegedly threatening to kill the girl and her family, and also coercing the victim to commit suicide," reads a press release by the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT) and the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP). following a nation-wide investigation.
The victim is from Ontario and her identity is protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
This is a heartbreaking case with the victim enduring years of abuse and suffering. It comes at a great relief to make an arrest, and will undoubtedly help in the victim's healing process," said Det. Krista Mapplebeck with Alberta's ALERT internet Child Exploitation unit (ICE).
On Oct. 21, the investigation led officers to the suspect in Alberta, where his home was searched and he was arrested.
While this case highlights the borderless nature of these crimes, it also sends a message to those who exploit children about the tenacity and collaboration exhibited by internet Child Exploitation (ICE) investigators across Canada," said OPP Det. Const. Cory Wilson. I am grateful to my partners in Calgary ICE who hit the ground running and put an end to the offender's heinous acts. The courage and resilience of this victim is an inspiration to all."
Brady Provost, 28, is charged with encouraging suicide, extortion, intimidation, child luring, harassing virtually, uttering threats, making child pornography, distribution of child pornography, possession of child pornography, accessing child pornography and making explicit materials available to a child.
Police are asking anyone with information about these investigations, or any child exploitation offence, is encouraged to contact local police or cybertip.ca.
Mariam Nouser is a reporter for the Star's radio room based in Toronto. Reach Mariam via email: mnouser@thestar.ca