SAPD says a CyberTip report from Snapchat and facial recognition technology helped identify a suspect in the case.
SAN ANTONIO — A San Antonio man has been arrested following an investigation that began with a CyberTip report submitted by Snapchat, according to an affidavit from the San Antonio Police Department.
The affidavit states that Luis Ramiro Salinas, 20, is accused of possessing illegal visual material involving a child. The charge is a third-degree felony under Texas law.
According to SAPD Sgt. Steve O’Neal, who is assigned to the iChild Exploitation Unit, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a report from Snapchat on Nov. 30, 2023.
The CyberTip report flagged a suspect user account that allegedly uploaded multiple files and made concerning statements on the platform.
Investigators reviewed the material, and police say at least one file met the legal definition of child pornography under Texas Penal Code.
The affidavit also notes that Snapchat provided a “selfie”-style video connected to the account. An analyst with the Texas Office of the Attorney General used a law enforcement facial recognition database to identify the individual in the video as Salinas.
Authorities say the identification was supported by a matching Texas driver’s license photo, as well as social media content linked to Salinas.
Police conducted surveillance at an address on Ivanhoe Street, where they reportedly observed a vehicle registered to Salinas.
Based on the information gathered, investigators determined probable cause existed for Salinas’ arrest on a charge of possession of child pornography.
The case remains under investigation.