North Dakota man arrested for possessing child pornography

GRAND FORKS, N.D. — A Grand Forks man was arrested Thursday for possessing child pornography.

The Grand Forks Police Department received a cyber-tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding child pornography crimes. An investigation revealed that Internet Protocol addresses associated with Robert Beattie, 55, of the 400 block of Desiree Drive had been active in disseminating child pornography.

As a part of this investigation, search warrants were served at Beattie’s residence and place of employment by members of the following agencies: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Grand Forks Police Department, North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigations and University of North Dakota Police Department.

Evidence was recovered which led to Beattie’s arrest for possessing child pornography.

This remains an open and active investigation.

This investigation was conducted under HSI’s Operation Predator, an international initiative to protect children from sexual predators. Since the launch of Operation Predator in 2003, HSI has arrested more than 12,000 individuals for crimes against children, including the production and distribution of online child pornography, traveling overseas for sex with minors, and sex trafficking of children. In fiscal year 2014, more than 2,300 individuals were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative and more than 1,000 victims identified or rescued.

HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators. From outside the U.S. and Canada, callers should dial 802-872-6199. Hearing impaired users can call TTY 802-872-6196. Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, via its toll-free 24-hour hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST.

For additional information about wanted suspected child predators, download HSI’s Operation Predator smartphone app or visit the online suspect alerts page.

HSI is a founding member and current chair of the Virtual Global Taskforce, an international alliance of law enforcement agencies and private industry sector partners working together to prevent and deter online child sexual abuse.