Arkansas police are investigating an alleged child predator following an undercover operation by ‘Truckers Against Predators.’
The group of volunteers, founded by Anthony Greene, creates fake social media profiles online, posing as children in order to attract and expose potential child predators.
According to 5 News Online, Greene interacted with the suspect online, pretending to be a 12 year old girl. Greene claims to have received sexually explicit photos from the male suspect, who believed he was communicating with a child.
The unnamed suspect then made plans to meet up with the supposed minor in Greenland, Arkansas, but was met by Greene and a team of Greenland officers. Upon seeing the officers, the man attempted to make a run for it, but was quickly caught by police, who questioned him.
During the questioning, the suspect would not admit to the sending of explicit photos or to his plans to meet up with a minor, and so was not arrested.
Greene provided the officers with records of the messages and photos, but the investigation is still ongoing and Greenland police are working to obtain enough information for an arrest warrant. The suspects identity has not been released.
“They are trying to build a very strong case because we do not want him to slip through the cracks,” Greene said.
“They try to build trust with these children,” Greene warned.
“Then they meet up with them. They say the most horrific things you can possibly imagine. All of the major applications, Snapchat, anything you can think of are dangerous. These people lurk in these applications.”