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Juvenile Sex Sting Results In Arrests

Post Date:06/30/2016 12:40 pm

On June 28 and 29, the Moorhead and Fargo Police Departments utilized Operation Guardian Angel, a federal program, to combat the issues of people trying to buy sex with juveniles. This project involved partnerships with local hotels that demonstrates their cooperation toward ensuring that their businesses and communities will take a stand for public safety to better ensure a family friendly environment for their patrons.

Through posted advertisements soliciting sex with an underage minor, police had 159 inquiry responses in a two day period. Moorhead Police made 6 arrests with Fargo Police making another 12 in Fargo when these male subjects individually met criminal statutory requirements of felony level sex crimes against children.

The Operation Guardian Angel Program has been conducted across the country targeting subjects that are actively looking to engage in criminal sexual activity with minors. This activity is disturbing and has been proven to also be occurring locally through this law enforcement initiative. We have to accept that no community is immune to this societal problem. We encourage everyone to recognize potential safety concerns associated with on-line communications by your children and to be mindful that sexual predators from across the country are actively seeking contacts.

This project was accomplished through the coordinated partnerships of the Moorhead, Fargo, Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Grand Forks Police Departments, along with the Cass County Sheriff's Office, ND BCI, MN BCA, and Department of Homeland Security Investigators. The following six individuals were arrested in Moorhead on June 28, for felonies associated with engaging in prostitution or sexual contact with under age individuals. No juveniles were used in connection with this sting. These subjects are currently in the Clay County Jail pending a long form complaint through the Clay County Attorney's Office.

STEVEN BREKER