Police in Hay River say they have arrested a local man following an investigation into “luring minors and extortion via social media”.
In a statement issued on Friday, RCMP said 21-year-old Joel Gordon had been arrested on Thursday afternoon as police searched his Hay River home.
Charges against Gordon, none of which have yet been proven in court, include possession and distribution of child pornography, luring minors and extortion.
Gordon is being held pending a court appearance in Yellowknife on Tuesday, January 26.
Also in Hay River: Crack cocaine seized in Hay River, teenager charged
“Advances in technology allow police to find and prosecute perpetrators of these types of crimes,” said a statement issued by Cst Samuel Holm of Hay River RCMP.
“The Northwest Territories RCMP is committed to bringing to justice those who use technology to inflict harm on others.
“Parents and youth are reminded of the need to be wary during the use of social media as it can provide an easy method of access for potential predators to reach at risk individuals. Any inappropriate communications should be reported to the police, and contact should be discontinued.”
Gordon has appeared on a number of territorial sports teams as a promising track athlete, and was selected as an 18-year-old for the 2013 Canada Summer Games in Sherbrooke, Quebec.
