(Bartow, Fla. - 970 WFLA) During January and February the Polk County Sheriff's Office working with the Florida Department of Corrections Probation and Parole Office and the State Attorney's Office, made 42 total arrests during an undercover investigation focusing on those who prey on children. Detectives served several search warrants and arrested 18 suspects who engage in the promotion, possession, and distribution of child pornography. They additionally obtained a warrant for a suspect, for possession of child pornography. Detectives also conducted proactive compliance checks on sex offenders, predators, and probationers whose violations stemmed from sex offenses. They arrested 21 suspects for failure to register.
"Our children are this community's most precious resource. We must do everything we can to protect them. During operations such as this one, we proactively look for suspects who prey upon children, either through the collection and distribution of child pornography, or through their non-compliance with sexual predator and offender registration rules, including their evasive efforts to gain access to children through the Internet and social media. Our detectives have done an outstanding job-they are guardians who protect the innocent." - Grady Judd, Sheriff
Photo from the Polk County Sheriff's Office