Media Releases

In May of 2025, detectives from the Niagara Regional Police Service's (NRPS) Internet Child Exploitation Unit (ICE) commenced an investigation into the historical sexual exploitation of children.

The investigation, which involved child sexual abuse material (CSAM), led to the identification of a suspect. Further inquiries revealed additional evidence and multiple victims, with offences dating back to 2007.

Working alongside the NRPS Technological Crimes Unit, ICE detectives conducted a joint investigation that resulted in the arrest of two individuals:

• Justin Murray Wayne LEE, 49 years, of Welland, Ontario
• Thalia Rachelle HISCOE, 49 years, of Wallaceburg, Ontario

On Monday, August 25, 2025, at approximately 1:35 p.m. uniform members of the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) assigned to 1 District (St. Catharines/Thorold) responded to the area of Queen Street and Welland Avenue in the City of St. Catharines for a wanted person call.

As a result of the investigation, wanted party, Rebecca DAIGNEAULT, a 37-year-old female resident of St. Catharines, was arrested and charged with the following criminal offences:

• Fail to Comply with Probation Order
• Attempted Murder
• Break Enter and Commit an Indictable Offence

Detectives with the Collision Reconstruction Unit continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding a fatal accident that claimed the life of a 53-year-old Pelham resident. Detectives would like to thank members of the community for their assistance in helping to identify the driver and vehicle involved in this incident.

This investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with relevant information is asked to contact police at 905-688-4111, dial option 3, extension 1009569.

Members of the community who wish to provide information anonymously can contact Crime Stoppers of Niagara online or by calling 1-800-222-8477. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards to people who contact the program with information which leads to an arrest.

On Sunday, August 24, 2025, at approximately 11:00 p.m. uniform members of the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) assigned to 3 District (Welland/Pelham) responded to the area of Niagara Street and Roger Drive in Welland for a reported for a motor vehicle collision involving a pedestrian.

The initial investigation determined that a silver Honda Civic was travelling south bound on Niagara Street when a collision with a pedestrian occurred. Tragically, the 73-year-old male pedestrian succumbed to his injuries.

On Saturday, August 23, 2025, at approximately 8:30 p.m. uniform members of the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) assigned to 1 District (St. Catharines/Thorold) responded to the area of Vine Street and Holden Street in the City of St. Catharines following reports of an assault.

The initial investigation determined that a male youth was walking on Vine Street near Holden Street when three male suspects exited a smaller, black SUV that had been parked on Holden Street. One of the suspects armed with a baseball bat, assaulted the victim until he fell to the ground and lost consciousness. The suspects then fled the scene in the SUV, last observed travelling northbound toward Carlton Street.

On Tuesday, August 19, 2025, detectives from the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) Unit and the Child Abuse Unit (CAU), commenced an investigation into the online luring of a minor. Through the course of the investigation, the suspect is alleged to have knowingly engaged in communications for a sexual purpose with a young person under the age of 14.

On Friday, August 22, 2025, detectives from the NRPS ICE Unit arrested 49-year-old Steven Albert VENDITELLO of Lincoln for the following Criminal Code offences:

• Luring a Child via Telecommunication to Facilitate Sexual Interference

The Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) are warning members of the community to remain vigilant as fraudsters continue to carry out the “Grandparent Scam.”

In this scam, suspects typically contact elderly victims by telephone, posing as a grandchild or another family member. The caller claims to be in urgent legal trouble, often involving a motor vehicle collision or criminal charges, and requests immediate financial assistance. In some cases, a second individual posing as a police officer, lawyer, or legal official will join the call to reinforce the deception.

On Thursday, August 21, 2025, at approximately 4:00 p.m. uniform members of the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) assigned to 1 District (St. Catharines/Thorold) responded to a location in St. Catharines for a belated child abuse call.

The initial investigation led uniform members to immediately engage detectives with the Child Abuse Unit (CAU). Detectives with the NRPS CAU continued the investigation and determined that a child sexual assault occurred.

As a result of the investigation, Robert CAVERLEY, a 54-year-old resident of St. Catharines, has been arrested and charged with the following criminal code offences:

Throughout the month of August, Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) detectives assigned to the Sexual Assault Unit (SAU) investigated reports of sexual assaults that occurred during scheduled massage therapy appointments at a wellness centre in the Town of Fort Erie.

On Thursday, August 21, 2025, as a result of the investigation, detectives from the SAU arrested and charged Ivo IVANOV (59 years) of Fort Erie, with the following criminal code offence:

• Sexual Assault (9 counts)
• Sexual Exploitation (1 count)

On Monday, August 18, 2025, Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) Detectives assigned to the Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) Unit and Technological Crimes Unit initiated a joint investigation into the sexual exploitation of children.

On Thursday, August 21, 2025, Detectives from the NRPS ICE Unit and Technological Crimes Unit identified and arrested 66-year-old Erwin HUISBRINK of Niagara Falls for the following Criminal Code offences:

• Possession of Child Pornography - Section 163.1(4) of the Criminal Code of Canada