On February 5, 2018 the RCMP's Integrated National Security Enforcement Team (K-INSET) in Edmonton received information pertaining to threats against the Canadian government, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, which had been posted via social media.
K-INSET investigators used evidenced-based and intelligence-led techniques to identify the social media account from which the threatening messages originated. Additional investigation enabled police to identify an address in Edmonton and the individual account holder, who was taken into custody without incident on February 15, 2018.
Robert Dale KERR, 41, of Edmonton, Alberta was charged with one count of uttering threats contrary to section 264.1(1) of the Criminal Code and released from custody with conditions including being banned from going within 500 meters of any place were Prime Minister Trudeau may be in attendance, prohibition of leaving Alberta and prohibition to access any social media sites. Mr. Kerr is scheduled to appear in Provincial Court in Edmonton on Thursday, February 22, 2018 at 8:15 a.m.
K-INSET led this investigation with the assistance of members from the Red Deer RCMP.
Using social media as a means by which to make threats against an individual or a group of people is not to be taken lightly and may result in criminal charges if a police investigation obtains evidence to support the laying of such charges.