On Wednesday, September 3, 2025, uniformed officers with the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) 6 District (Port Colborne/Wainfleet) were called to a Port Colborne residence to investigate a belated sexual assault. Officers discovered that a person under the age of 16 had been the victim of several offences.
Detectives with the Child Abuse Unit (CAU) assumed carriage of the investigation. As a result of that investigation, detectives have arrested and charged Francesco BROCCOLO-CRIGER (29 years) of Thorold.
BROCCOLO-CRIGER is charged with the following offences.
Expose Genitals to a person under 16 years of age for a sexual purpose x2 Invitation to Sexual touching under 16 years Sexual interference with a person under 16 years Sexual assault Luring via telecommunication with a person under 16 years to facilitate Invitation to Sexual Touching
BROCCOLO-CRIGER remains in custody and is scheduled to attend a bail hearing Wednesday, September17, 2025, at the Robert S.K. Welch Courthouse, located at 59 Church Street in St. Catharines.
Detectives believe that there may be other victims. They are asking anyone who believes they may be a victim, or who has any information relevant to this investigation, is asked to contact investigators at 905-688-4111, option 3, extension 1009494.
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.
The Niagara Regional Police Service is a member of the Provincial Strategy to Protect Children from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation on the Internet and conducts investigations in partnership with Ontario police services and international agencies. This initiative is made possible through funding from the Ministry of the Solicitor General.
NRPS Incident 25-101264