GSPS ICE Unit in collaboration with WRPS, PRP and OPP arrest two individuals for Child Exploitation

In March of 2026, the Greater Sudbury Police Service (GSPS) Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) Unit launched an undercover online investigation targeting individuals who were using the internet to communicate with and lure children for a sexual purpose.

As a result of the investigation, detectives identified and arrested two individuals from Southern Ontario.

On September 15, 2026, members of the GSPS ICE Unit, with assistance from the Waterloo Regional Police Service Internet Child Exploitation Unit, arrested 66-year-old Thomas Gallagher. He has been charged with the following offences under the Criminal Code of Canada:

• Luring a person under the age of 16 years (two counts)

Thomas Gallagher remains in custody.

On October 27, 2026, members of the GSPS ICE Unit and Computer Forensic Unit (CFU), working in partnership with the Peel Regional Police Internet Child Exploitation Unit and Electronic Storage Detection (ESD) K9 as well as the Ontario Provincial Police Child Sexual Exploitation Unit (CSEU), executed a search warrant in Hanover, Ontario. The ESD K9 located several devices that were seized during the execution of the search warrant.

As a result of the investigation, 52-year-old Paul Garvey was arrested and charged with:

• Luring a person under the age of 16 years (two counts)
• Making sexually explicit material available to a child

Investigators believe Paul Garvey used the social media account @Hiltonhaven and the email address hiltpaul50@gmail.com while communicating with and attempting to lure youth online.

Paul Garvey attended bail court on October 27, 2026, and has since been released through the judicial process.

Anyone with information related to either individual is asked to contact their local police service.

The Greater Sudbury Police Service Internet Child Exploitation Unit is part of the Provincial Strategy to Protect Children from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation on the Internet. The strategy is supported through funding provided by the Ministry of the Solicitor General.

Cybertip.ca is Canada's national tipline for reporting the online sexual exploitation of children. Information reported by the public plays a critical role in helping protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation.

Anyone who believes a child may be at risk of online victimization is encouraged to submit a report through Cybertip.ca. For information on preventing and responding to the online sexual exploitation of children, or to make a report, visit www.cybertip.ca.