The San Francisco Police Department is asking anyone who might have had contact with an Outer Sunset photographer to come forward after they say they discovered thousands of images and videos depicting children in sexual situations in his possession, as well as videos the shooter allegedly took of unsuspecting women in San Francisco.
According to SFPD spokesperson Officer Carlos Manfredi, on October 8, officers with SFPD's Internet Crimes Against Children Unit (ICAC), agents from the Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and FBI agents raided the home of 50-year-old Duane Ackerman, who lives on the 1200 block of 46th Avenue, which is between Irving Street and Lincoln Way, following what Manfredi characterizes as an "online investigation."
Manfredi says that during the raid, investigators made the following discoveries (this is pretty rough):
- Numerous media devices, including laptops, desktops, and thumb drives, that contained "thousands of child pornography videos and images depicting juvenile minors engaged in sexual acts."
- Multiple videos depicting children engaged in sexual acts with adults.
- Hundreds of videos stored on computers and tapes that "depicted Ackerman using hidden cameras to film up-skirt videos of unsuspecting women."
- Homemade recording devices that could easily be concealed on clothing or on shoes.
Manfredi says that the covert videos "appeared to have been secretly filmed in the Pier 39 and Japan Town areas of San Francisco."
With that evidence in hand, officers arrested Ackerman. He's been charged with multiple counts, including possession of child pornography, distribution of child pornography, possession of over 600 files of child pornography, production of child pornography, and using concealed camera to record a person for lewd purpose.
According to the Chron, Ackerman was booked into San Francisco County Jail, with bail set at $200,000.
Business listings site InBusiness notes Ackerman's name and address as the owner of and location of "Memory Works Video Productions," the same business listed on this Facebook page for SF-based "producer, director, and cinematographer" Duane Ackerman.
Based on that information, it appears that Ackerman's photography company is called "Fashion Film 101", which also has a YouTube channel here.
Manfredi says that investigators continue to seek Ackerman alleged victims, as well as anyone who might have "had any suspicious contact with the subject." If you or someone you know has had a troubling interaction with Ackerman, Manfredi asks that you contact the Special Victims Unit at (415) 558-5500.
