Computer equipment seized
The home of Dr. William Richard Vitale was raided by Halifax police at 6:25 a.m. Friday, police said, and he was taken into custody at that time. Computer equipment was seized from the home. It’s unclear if he is still practicing but he has been licensed in the province since 1983.
The Internet Child Exploitation Unit of the Integrated Criminal Investigation Division has been conducting an investigation on Dr. Vitale for a month. They gave no indication how he had come to their attention. He is charged with making available, possessing and accessing child pornography.
Victims identities unknown
Constable Dianne Woodworth told media they do not believe the victims were patients now or before of Dr. Vitale and they do not think the children in the porn images were from Halifax. “There’s no indication at this point (that victims were local),” she said.
It is not the first time that Dr. Vitale has been accused of wrong-doing. In 2013 his license was suspended after he was charged with improperly mixing vaccinations for children. Instead of his patients coming in two or three times for their shots, he was alleged to have himself mixed a concoction of the vaccinations and given them just one shot.
As a result, the parents of the approximately 500 children involved were advised by health officials to have their young ones re-vaccinated.
