An Edmonton school custodian has been arrested and charged following a sweeping investigation into child sexual exploitation material shared online, authorities confirmed this week.
Crispolo (Cris) Comillas, 47, was arrested on June 18 by ALERT's Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) unit in collaboration with Edmonton Police Service. He faces charges of accessing and possessing child sexual exploitation materials, according to an ALERT news release issued Tuesday.
The investigation began after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children flagged concerning online activity involving an unknown Alberta user distributing child sexual exploitation materials. ALERT's specialized ICE unit traced the digital footprint and identified Comillas as the suspect.
Direct Contact With Youth Raises Alarm
At the time of his arrest, Comillas was employed as a janitor at Louis St. Laurent Catholic Junior/Senior High School, located near 112 Street and 43 Avenue in Edmonton. While his charges stem from online activity, ALERT investigators expressed specific concern about his employment at the school, noting that his custodial position provided direct contact with students and youth.
"Comillas' employment at the school put him in direct contact with youth," ALERT stated in their release, emphasizing the severity of the situation and the need for continued investigation.
Court Appearance Scheduled
Comillas has been released from custody under strict conditions pending his next court appearance on July 6. The conditions of his release have not been publicly disclosed.
Police are urging anyone with additional information about Comillas or this investigation to contact Edmonton Police Service at 780-423-4567. Those who prefer to remain anonymous can submit information to Crime Stoppers.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about online child exploitation and the critical work of specialized law enforcement units tasked with protecting vulnerable youth across the province.
This article was adapted from reporting by Ramin Ostad at the Edmonton Journal.