Further Charges Related to Ongoing Investigation - Welland

Update 2 – October 29, 2024

As a result of the continued investigation by Child Abuse and Central Region Detectives, an additional 10 Criminal Code charges have been laid against Sean MEZO.

These offences are alleged to have occurred between May 7, 2024, and August 26, 2024, involving persons under the age of 16 in the City of Welland and St. Catharines, including the Pen Centre. The photo and name of the accused is being released in the interest of public safety in an attempt to identify other potential victims or witnesses.

As a result, Sean MEZO is facing the following additional charges:

• Break, Enter and Commit Theft
• Criminal Harassment
• Voyeurism
• Trespassing or Prowling at Night Near Dwelling (5 Counts)
• Theft Under $5000   
• Mischief Not Exceeding $5000

MEZO has been in custody since August 29^th, 2024, with his next scheduled court appearance on court on October 31, 2024, at the Robert S.K Welch Courthouse located at 59 Church Street in the City of St. Catharines.

Anyone with information concerning these or similar occurrences are asked to contact the investigating officer by calling 905-688-4111, option 3, extension 1008393.

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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Update 1 – August 30, 2024

Detectives from the Niagara Regional Police Service Child Abuse Unit, 3 District (Welland/Pelham) detective office and the Forensics Services Unit have been investigating this incident since it occurred.

As a result of the investigation detectives were able to identify a suspect. On Aug. 29, 2024, 3 District Street Crime Unit detectives arrested Sean M. Mezo (39 years) of Welland. Mezo has been charged with the Criminal Code offences of:

• Break Enter Commit – Sexual Assault
• Sexual Interference

Mezo was held in custody for a video bail hearing to the Robert S. K. Welch Courthouse in St. Catharines on Aug. 30, 2024

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the investigating officers by calling 905-688-4111, option 3, ext. 1009468.

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.

Original Release – August 22, 2024

Detectives from the 3 District (Welland / Pelham) office of the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) are investigating an alleged residential break-and-enter in Welland.

On Aug. 22 at 4:25 a.m. 3 District uniform officers and officers from the NRPS K9 Unit responded to an address in the area of Endicott Terrace and Barrington Drive for a report of a break-and-enter that had just occurred.

The initial officers received information that an unknown adult male suspect had entered the residence through a window and had an interaction with a child between the ages of five to 10. The suspect left the residence on foot. A K9 search of the area did not locate the suspect. The child was not physically injured and did not require medical care.

Detectives from the 3 District detective office, the NRPS Child Abuse Unit and the NRPS Forensic Service Unit have be actively investigating this incident since it occurred. Detectives are attempting to develop a suspect description.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the investigating officers by calling 905-688-4111, option 3, ext. 1009470.

Anyone (residents/business owners) who may have been in the area with cell phones, closed circuit video recording, or dash camera footage between 1-5 a.m. is asked to review their footage of the area and contact police if they observe anything suspicious.

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