Charges laid after child porn investigation that 'spanned several different countries,' Kelowna RCMP say

A stock image shows a hand typing on a computer keyboard. (Soumil Kumar/Pexels)

Police in Kelowna say an international investigation has led to child pornography charges against a 46-year-old man.

Patrick Michael Waldrum was arrested in Brooks, Alta., on Dec. 19, Kelowna RCMP told CTV News in response to questions about a news release the detachment sent on the case Friday morning.

Waldrum was held in custody pending a court appearance Friday, and has been charged with possession of child pornography and luring a child, an offence that requires evidence that the offender communicated with an underage person for the purposes of facilitating a child pornography offence, police said.

"Kelowna RCMP (Integrated Child Exploitation Unit) investigators worked closely with international law enforcement partners as these offences spanned several different countries," the detachment said in its release.

Asked by CTV News how many victims Waldrum is alleged to have exploited and in which countries, the detachment refused to say.

"This question deals with content that may be relevant to the prosecution and other law enforcement agencies, as such we will not be able to answer additional questions," police said.

Sgt. Tim Russell, the officer in charge of the Kelowna RCMP Vulnerable Persons Unit, said in the news release that collaborating with international partners was "key to the success" of the investigation, describing child sexual exploitation as a "borderless online crime."

"The online sexual exploitation of children continues to be an emerging concern in our society and the Kelowna RCMP continues to adapt its investigative strategies to ensure public safety and that offenders are held accountable," Russell said.