Degrassi High actor arrested on charges of child abuse images and bestiality
He will appear in court next month
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A former actor on the teen high school series Degrassi High has been charged with allegedly making and distributing child abuse imagery in Canada.
Jason 'Byrd' Dickens, who appeared as the character Scott Smith on the show in 1991, was arrested alongside three other women as part of an ongoing police investigation into child exploitation, according to a statement by the Toronto Police Service.
The 45-year-old faces charges including possession of child abuse imagery, making child abuse images and bestiality.
Police in Toronto executed a search warrant in April and allegedly found evidence of a man and a woman “engaged in the sexual abuse of children and animals”.
He is due to appear in a Toronto Court on 1 September.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.