NEWS RELEASE
NIAGARA REGIONAL POLICE
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On April 10, 2022 at approximately 8:45 a.m., 2 District (Niagara Falls) uniform officers from the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) responded to an attempted child abduction call in Niagara Falls.
Officers attended the Niagara Falls Convention Centre on Stanley Avenue in Niagara Falls. Over the weekend of April 8 -10, 2022, the Niagara Falls Convention Centre hosted the Canadian Cheer All-Star National Championships.
Officers arrived on scene and their initial investigation determined that on April 9, 2022 at approximately 11 p.m., a male food service station employee (employed by a third-party vender) completed his shift and entered the public area of the building. A coach observed the male approach a nine-year-old girl and try to remove her from the building. The coach intervened. A short time later the male again attempted to remove a 10-year-old girl from the building. The suspect fled the scene when he observed concerned coaches approaching him.
Neither child was physically injured. The suspect and the child victims were not known to each other.
The investigation was assigned to detectives from the NRPS 2 District detective office assisted by detectives from the Child Abuse Unit. As a result of the investigation the suspect’s identity was determined. The suspect was arrested on April 10, 2022 at 2:30 p.m. when he returned to work at the Convention Centre.
Rodney Kwadjo Ababio (19 years) of Niagara Falls has been arrested and charged with the criminal offence of:
- Abduction of person under the age of 14, Sec. 281 CC (two counts)
Ababio was held in custody to attend a bail hearing by video link to the Robert S. K. Welch Court House in St. Catharines on April 11, 2022.
Anyone who may have information about this incident is asked to contact detectives at 905-688-4111, ext. 1022200.
Members of the public who wish to provide information anonymously can contact Crime Stoppers of Niagara online or by calling 1-800-222-8477. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards to persons who contact the program with information which leads to an arrest.
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