On Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023, it was reported to police that an adult female had been threatened with sexual violence during an online transaction. The man reportedly reached out to the woman to purchase an item she was selling on Facebook Marketplace. After agreeing to purchase the item and obtaining her address, he offered the woman sexual favours as payment. When she refused, he reportedly stated he had a firearm and threatened her with sexual violence.
Officers were able to identify the male as Frederick Patrick Schmaltz, 46, and issued a warrant for his arrest for uttering threats. Investigators also subsequently discovered Schmaltz also had two outstanding warrants, one for uttering threats and one for impersonating a peace officer, related to a similar incident that took place in February 2022. On Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023, Schmaltz was arrested on all three warrants by Westlock RCMP in Vimy, Alta.
Police have since linked Schmaltz to at least four other similar incidents in Edmonton dating back as far as January 2021 and continue to actively investigate those occurrences. As a result, police believe there may be additional victims and are encouraging them to contact police. Schmaltz also often goes by the name Freddie and has consistently been communicating via text at a phone number beginning with 780 and ending in 6638.
Investigators are also reminding citizens who buy and sell items via online marketplaces to be mindful of the information they provide and the location they choose to meet. Some safety tips are included below:
- Do not meet in a secluded place or invite strangers to your home. Instead, suggest meeting during the day at a public location, ideally with video surveillance, such as one of the EPS Buy and Sell Exchange Zones.
- Have someone accompany you when you meet the buyer or seller. If you cannot arrange for someone to accompany you, let friends or family know where you are going, what time you are meeting and the details about who you are meeting. Let your contact know when the transaction is safely completed.
- Ask the buyer or seller for photo ID. Take a photo of it for your reference.
Anyone who believes they have been victimized by Schmaltz is asked to contact the EPS at 780-423-4567or #377 from a mobile phone. Anonymous information can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.p3tips.com/250.