St. Catharines Man Arrested on Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Material Charges

In March of 2026, detectives with the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) Internet Child Exploitation Unit (ICE Unit) commenced an investigation into the sexual exploitation of children on the Internet.

On April 21, 2026, ICE detectives, along with the Technological Crimes Unit executed a search warrant at a residential apartment in St. Catharines and seized numerous digital devices capable of storing electronic data.

After investigation into the evidence seized, detectives were able to make an arrest in the investigation.  On Thursday, May 7, 2026, 48-year-old Zachary D HARRIS of St. Catharines was arrested and charged with the following offences.

• Possession of Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Material x 2
• Accessing Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Material (CSAEM)

HARRIS remains in custody and is scheduled to attend a bail hearing Friday, May 8, 2026, at the Robert S.K. Welch Courthouse, located at 59 Church Street in St. Catharines.

Anyone with information related to this incident is asked to contact the Niagara Regional Police Service’s ICE Unit at 905-688-4111, option 3, extension 1009478.

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.

Online platforms that allow like-minded users to engage with minors, create, share, and store Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Material (CSAEM) are prevalent on the Internet. Offenders who attempt to lure children behind anonymous accounts on different platforms can be identified and will be held accountable for their actions.

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.

Incident #26-38343