Police lay charges in child exploitation investigation
Police have charged a Dartmouth man with child exploitation and firearms offences.
On May 21, information was received from the US National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that a 10-year-old girl in the United States was in correspondence with a Canadian male believed to be an adult.
Communication between the two began in January 2025 and continued over various social media platforms, including Slowly and Snapchat. The man presented himself as a 15-year-old boy and the conversations included inappropriate sexual content. He also mailed the girl handwritten letters and gifts.
The Halifax Integrated Child Exploitation Unit worked closely with the Lakeshore Regional Child Advocacy Center in Wisconsin to further the investigation.
On June 5, investigators executed a search warrant at a residence on Gaston Road in Dartmouth where electronic devices and firearms were seized. The suspect was arrested without incident.
John Aaron Shute, 42, has been remanded into custody. He will be scheduled to appear in Dartmouth provincial court at a later date to face charges of:
- Luring a child under 16
- Making child pornography
- Possession of child pornography
- Failure to comply with order
- Breach of probation order in relation to children (x2)
- Firearms related offences (x5)
The investigation is ongoing, and additional charges may be laid.
Anyone with information about suspected child exploitation is asked to contact police at 902-490-5020. Anonymous tips can be sent to Crime Stoppers by calling toll-free 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submitting a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca or by using the P3 Tips app.
There is no statute of limitation on sexual assaults. Anyone who has been the victim of a sexual assault is encouraged to contact police. Victims will be treated with compassion, dignity and respect throughout the entire investigative process.
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Dangerous drug combination seized in Dartmouth
Police are warning of a dangerous drug combination seized during a traffic stop in Dartmouth in April.
On April 20 at approximately 3:30 a.m., officers initiated a traffic stop of an impaired driver near Sea King Drive and Albro Lake Road in Dartmouth. The vehicle was seized and searched and a quantity of an unknown substance was located.
The substance is described as grey/green in colour and in a grainy powder form. It was sent to Health Canada for identification.
This week, Health Canada confirmed that Metonitazene, a potent synthetic opioid, was detected in the substance. Fentanyl, Caffeine and Dimethlsulphone were also detected.
This combination of drugs is dangerous and may put users more at risk of an overdose. Even handling these substances can be risky without taking proper precautions.
Those experiencing an overdose should be administered Naloxone to buy time to seek medical assistance. Naloxone kits are available free of charge through the Nova Scotia Take Home Naloxone Program. Information on the program and where to get a kit is available at Nova Scotia Health, Take Home Naloxone Program .
