Scarborough man charged following Ajax child luring investigation

A 22-year-old Scarborough man is facing charges after allegedly attempting to lure a 13-year-old girl while posing as a 16-year-old boy.

A 22-year-old man from Scarborough is facing numerous charges after allegedly attempting to lure a 13-year-old girl in Ajax.

On Nov. 8, police were called to a public school near Harkins and Delaney drives for reports of a suspicious person.

Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS) said staff at the school had received information that a female student was planning to meet up with a male whom she believed was 16 years old.

Police said members of their West Division School Liaison Office searched the area but did not find a suspect.

Investigators from DRPS’s Internet Child Exploitation Unit, with the help of the E-Crimes Unit and the Criminal Investigations Branch, were able to identify the suspect and later attended his residence in Scarborough. He was located inside the home and taken into custody without incident.

Police subsequently conducted a search warrant at that residence for electronic devices.

Talha Shaikh, 22, of Scarborough has been charged with luring to facilitate the offence of making child pornography, luring to facilitate the offence of sexual assault, luring to facilitate the offence of sexual interference, access child pornography, and possession of child pornography. The charges have not been tested in court.

He was held in custody for a bail hearing.

Police said that the victim was initially contacted by the suspect through Snapchat, with the username ‘txjan02’.

Investigators are concerned that there may be more victims and are asking anyone with information to come forward.

This investigation is ongoing and anyone with information about this or similar incidents is asked to contact Det. Const. Mayhew of DRPS’s Internet Child Exploitation Unit at 1-888-579-1520, ext. 5502, or Crime Stoppers anonymously.