NEWS RELEASE
NIAGARA REGIONAL POLICE SERVICE
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n June 2023, Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) Detectives assigned to the Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) Unit began a proactive investigation to target people in our community who use the Internet to contact children for sexual purposes. In October 2023, this investigation became a joint venture with Detectives from the Greater Sudbury Police Service Internet Child Exploitation Unit.
Over a several month span, Dale J Cull (63 years old) used the Internet to converse with multiple people who he believed to be under the age of 16 years. In doing so he committed the following offences:
- luring a child via telecommunication to facilitate the offence of sexual interference
- luring a child via telecommunication to facilitate the offence of invitation to sexual touching
On July 9, 2024, Detectives executed a search warrant at a private residence in the City of St. Catharines and seized devices capable of storing electronic data. Dale J Cull was located at the residence and arrested at the same time.
“Detectives from the Internet Child Exploitation Unit have reason to believe that Dale J Cull was using online platforms with the username “Niagarafun” and “Dale Me” to commit offences against other children on the Internet. If you have information relating to this person, please contact the Niagara Regional Police Service at 905-688-4111.”
Dale J Cull was held in custody after his arrest and is set to appear for a bail hearing on July 10, 2024 at the Robert S.K. Welch Courthouse, located at 59 Church Street, in the City of St. Catharines.
“This arrest showcases the dedication of our members in ensuring some of the most vulnerable members of our community are protected, sending a strong message that the predatory behaviors associated with using the Internet to lure children for a sexual purpose will not be tolerated in Niagara.”
For more information on how parents and guardians can keep children safe online, click here
The Niagara Regional Police Service is a member of the Provincial Strategy to Protect Children from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation on the Internet and conducts investigations into Internet Child Exploitation Offences in partnership with Ontario Police Services and International Partners. This investigative initiative has been made possible by a grant from the Ministry of the Solicitor General.
Members of the public who wish to provide information anonymously are encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers of Niagara online or by calling 1-800-222-8477. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards to persons who contact the program with information that leads to an arrest.
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