Father and son sexually exploited teenage girls at 2 strip mall shops, Calgary police say

WARNING: This article contains details of allegationsof sexual abuse.

Calgary police say they have arrested a father and son who they believeareresponsible for the sexual exploitation, assault and extortion of multiple teen girls at two businesses in the city's southwest.

In April, police found a 13-year-old girl who had previously been reported missing, the Calgary Police Service said in a media release Friday.

Police said the girl told officers she was in a relationship with a 24-year-old man who allegedly provided her with alcohol, drugsand vapes in exchange for sex.

The CPS child abuse unit launched an investigation.

Police said that during the investigation, they learned the man and his father, 56, own Haddon Convenience Store, at 208 Haddon Road S.W., and the adjoiningPremier Liquor Wine & Spirits.

Police believe the two men provided vapes, marijuana, cigarettes and alcohol to multiple other teenage girls, whom police say were sexually assaulted at the businesses.

Police say they believe the incidents occurred between December 2022 and May 2023. The girls were not able to legally consent, as the age of consent in Canada is 16.

On Thursday, officersarrested both men and executed a search warrant at a house in the northwest community of Panorama Hills. Police said they seized 975 grams of cocaine and seven handguns.

Search warrants were also executed at the two southwest businesses. Police said this resulted in the seizure of a computer with child pornography, drugs and drug paraphernalia, contraband tobacco, vape cartridges and collapsible batons.

Police have charged Sumrit Walia, 24, with:

• 1 count of sexual interference with a minor.
• 1 count of sexual exploitation.
• 1 count of sexual assault.
• 1 count of possession of child pornography.
• 1 count of accessing child pornography.
• 1 count of creating child pornography.
• 7 counts of unlawful possession of a firearm.
• 1 count of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking.
• 1 count of extortion.
• 3 counts of uttering threats.
• 1 count of selling contraband tobacco to youth and 1 count of breach of a court order.

Police have charged Gurpartap Singh Walia, 56, with:

• 4 counts of sexual assault.
• 4 counts of sexual interference with a minor.
• 1 count of selling contraband tobacco.

Police say the victims are being supported by the Luna Child and Youth Advocacy Centre.

Support is available for anyone who has been sexually assaulted. You can access crisis lines and local support services through this Government of Canada website or the Ending Violence Association of Canada database. If you're in immediate danger or fear for your safety or that of others around you, call 911.