BARTOW, Fla. - From Thursday, July 19 through Monday, July 23, 2007, a total of 22 adult males were arrested and charged with soliciting sex from a child via the internet during Operation Guardian, an undercover operation led by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. The two-week-long operation also included detectives, officers, and special agents from the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) TaskForce, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the Plant City Police Department, working in conjunction with membersof the State Attorney’s Office along with Attorney General Bill McCollum’s Office of Statewide Prosecution.
The multi-agency effort, directed by PCSO detectives, is the third such operation conducted in Polk County that demonstrates law enforcement’s continuous commitment to fighting Internet crimes against children. Undercover detectives used chat rooms and instant messaging to direct suspects to the location.
Sheriff Grady Judd expressed his ongoing commitment to protecting children’s emotional and physical well-being. “It’s obvious that these deviants never learn, and it’s disappointing to know that we have arrested child predators who come from public service industries. This reconfirms our dedication to our number one cause, and that’s keeping children safe,” said Sheriff Judd. “The message to the predators is this: If we didn’t arrest you this time, we will get you next time. You are going to leave Polk County’s children alone.” More MagazineLane.com
The multi-agency effort, directed by PCSO detectives, is the third such operation conducted in Polk County that demonstrates law enforcement’s continuous commitment to fighting Internet crimes against children. Undercover detectives used chat rooms and instant messaging to direct suspects to the location.
Sheriff Grady Judd expressed his ongoing commitment to protecting children’s emotional and physical well-being. “It’s obvious that these deviants never learn, and it’s disappointing to know that we have arrested child predators who come from public service industries. This reconfirms our dedication to our number one cause, and that’s keeping children safe,” said Sheriff Judd. “The message to the predators is this: If we didn’t arrest you this time, we will get you next time. You are going to leave Polk County’s children alone.” More MagazineLane.com
