Operation Cyber Highway Safety Check: ARKANSAS POLICE ARREST 42 FOR CHILD EXPLOITATION

During Operation Cyber Highway Safety Check, Arkansas State Police arrested 42 people for possessing child sexual abuse materials and failing to comply with registration requirements.

The special operation, which ran from March 10 to the end of May, aimed to detect and stop sexual predators before the school year ended and summer or spring break began.

“Unfortunately, children are frequently alone and most vulnerable during the summer,” said ASP Colonel Mike Hagar. “Beginning in March, our ICAC Task Force officers increased their efforts to keep our children safe by going after anyone attempting to exploit them. Our purpose is to investigate, prosecute, and prevent cyber crimes against children, as well as to make Arkansas a safe place for the state’s youngest people.”

According to reports, officers executed 178 search warrants and made more than 1,600 home visits to registered sex offenders. 160 investigations were launched, with 63 cases being prosecuted in state and federal courts.

45 of those cases were accepted for grand jury indictment. Arrests were made in two cases involving child sex trafficking.

Nine of the reported arrests were for hands-on crimes. Additionally, authorities rescued five children from continuous sexual abuse and identified 22 additional victims.

“This statewide operation has been the most successful in the task force’s history,” stated Major Stacie Rhoads, Commander of the ASP Criminal Investigation Division. “Child predators exploit children’s innocence and trust. Our unrelenting pursuit of individuals who prey on children will ensure that they are held responsible for their misdeeds.”