In July 2025, uniformed officers with the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) 1 District (St. Catharines/Thorold) and 2 District (Niagara Falls/Niagara-on-the-Lake) began an investigation involving allegations of human trafficking in Niagara Falls. Detectives with the Human Trafficking Unit (HTU) subsequently took carriage of the investigation. As a result of the investigation, a male and a female were arrested.
On Thursday, September 4, 2025, with the assistance of 2 District Street Crime Unit (SCU), the HTU arrested and charged 30-year-old Mariah WICKENDEN of Niagara Falls with the following criminal offences:
Trafficking in Persons Advertise Another Person’s Sexual Services Extortion Forcible Confinement Breach of Probation
WICKENDEN remains in custody and is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, at the Robert S.K. Welch Courthouse, located at 59 Church Street in St. Catharines.
On Monday, November 3, 2025, 30-year-old Brandon FITZGERALD of no fixed abode was arrested and charged with the following criminal offences:
Trafficking in Persons Advertise Another Person’s Sexual Services Extortion Forcible Confinement Breach of Probation
FITZGERALD remains in custody and is scheduled to appear in court on Monday, November 3, 2025, at the Robert S.K. Welch Courthouse, located at 59 Church Street in St. Catharines.
Due to the nature of the investigation, detectives have reason to believe there are additional witnesses and are urging them to come forward. Anyone with information related to this incident is asked to contact the Niagara Regional Police Service at 905-688-4111, option 3, ext. 1009742.
The NRPS Human Trafficking Unit also recognizes the ongoing assistance of Victim Services Niagara and other members of the Anti-Human Trafficking Response Protocol of the Niagara Region.
Members of the community who wish to provide information anonymously can contact Crime Stoppers of Niagara online or by calling 1-800-222-8477(TIPS). Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards to people who contact the program with information which leads to an arrest.
Survivors of Human Trafficking are encouraged to contact the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline by calling 1-833-900-1010 or on the internet CLICK HERE. This is a 24/7 confidential support resource available in over 200 languages.
For more information about community support options for survivors of Human Trafficking and the Niagara Regional Police Service’s efforts to combat Human Trafficking CLICK HERE.
NRPS Incident 2025-76823