June 7, 2024
As the school year ended and summer activities kicked off, Arkansas State Police (ASP) ramped up efforts to identify and stop sexual predators during a special Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Division operation called Operation Cyber Highway Safety Check.
“Unfortunately, children are often alone and most vulnerable during the summer,” said ASP Colonel Mike Hagar. “Starting in March, our ICAC Task Force officers stepped up efforts to keep our kids safe by going after individuals trying to exploit them. Our mission is to investigate, prosecute, and prevent internet crimes against children, and to make Arkansas a safe place for its youngest citizens.”
From March 10 through the end of May, ASP made 42 arrests related to Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) and failure to comply with registration requirements. Nine of the arrests were for hands-on offenses. Officers also rescued five children from ongoing sexual abuse and identified 22 children as new victims.
Officers executed 178 search warrants and conducted over 1,600 home visits with registered sex offenders. ICAC officers initiated 160 investigations and have submitted 63 cases for prosecution to state and federal courts. Among these, 45 cases have been accepted for grand jury indictments. In two cases that involved child sex trafficking, arrests were made, and ongoing investigations across multiple states are in progress.
Operation Cyber Highway Safety Check aimed to increase proactive investigations of cases involving CSAM from the start of Spring Break until the end of the school year. Historically, ICAC receives more cyber tips from electronic service providers and public complaints during spring and summer breaks.
“This statewide operation has been the most successful in the task force’s history,” said Major Stacie Rhoads, ASP Criminal Investigation Division commander. “Child predators exploit the innocence and trust of children. Our relentless pursuit of those who prey on children will ensure they are held accountable for their actions.”
(Major Rhoads will be available for media interviews Friday, June 7, starting at 2 p.m. at ASP Headquarters. To schedule an interview, contact Nick Genty at [email protected] or 501-747-8974.)
Operation Cyber Highway Safety Check included local, county, and state affiliates, as well as federal law enforcement partners, participating in a unified effort to combat child sexual abuse material throughout Arkansas.
As part of an ongoing effort to educate and protect schoolchildren, ASP Troopers are set to distribute informative posters to all schools with students who are 12 years old and above in the upcoming school year. The posters aim to raise awareness about the serious risks associated with sextortion and provide vital information to help keep students safe. These posters will contain clear and identifiable signs of sextortion and feature a QR code, allowing students to capture it discreetly with their devices. By doing so, students can access information later, helping reduce the risk of bullying and shaming associated with this issue.
For tools to help parents protect their children against technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation and internet crimes, visit aricac.org.