Arkansas police say 42 suspects arrested in raid on crimes against children

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas – Officials are calling a recent Arkansas State Police operation to combat child sex offenders a major success.

A news release from the agency on Friday said 42 suspects were arrested as part of the latest Operation Cyber ​​Highway Safety Check. The operation, which lasted from March 10 to the end of May, arrested people in connection with child pornography and failure to comply with registration requirements, including nine people for assault, officials said.

According to investigators, five children were rescued from ongoing sexual abuse and 22 children were identified as new victims.

Officers counted 178 search warrants executed and over 1,600 home visits to registered sex offenders during the operation. Members of ASP’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force initiated 160 investigations and referred 63 cases to state and federal courts for prosecution.

According to officials, grand jury indictments have been filed in 45 cases, arrests have been made in two cases involving child sex trafficking, and investigations are ongoing in several states.

“This nationwide operation was the most successful in the history of the task force,” said Major Stacie Rhoads, commander of the ASP Criminal Investigation Division.

Tools to help parents protect their children from technology-enabled sexual exploitation and cybercrime can be found on the Arkansas Internet Crimes Against Children website ARICAC.org.