Fort Erie man charged in connection to child pornography, another busted for hiding the suspect

In an investigation that’s lasted a full year, the Niagara Police’s Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) Unit and Technological Crimes Unit have laid charges against a Fort Erie man in connection to child pornography.

A second Fort Erie man was also charged for helping the suspect elude the police.

In March, police raided a home in Fort Erie and seized a number of electronic devices, doing a subsequent forensic examination of the equipment.

While they were unable to catch the suspect, police identified him as Eric Michael Hagen, 54, of Fort Erie, believing he should be charged with two counts of possession of child pornography and accessing child pornography

Unable to find him, Hagen was added to Niagara’s Wanted List on May 24, in the hopes that eventually someone would spot him.

Someone did and on May 30, directed the police to another home in the east side of Fort Erie, where he was found and detained with an additional charge of resisting arrest.

However, police also arrested Mark Edward Latondress, 54, also of Fort Erie, believing he was helping Hagen hide from the law. He was subsequently charged with accessory after the fact for committing an indictable offence.

Hagen remains in police custody,  scheduled to attend a bail hearing later today (May 31) via video link to the courthouse in Catharines.

Latondress has been released from custody but has a August 25 date to appear in the Welland Courthouse.

However, something happened during the arrest of Hagen that now has the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) involved. Niagara Police wouldn’t elaborate on what exactly but the SIU is traditionally brought in when a suspect is injured or worse.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact the lead detective at 905-688-4111, option 3, extension #1009172.