“Operation Degrossting” Arrests 24 Pedophiles In Mesa, Arizona area https://t.co/cx16eTM4Ao— An Open Secret (@AnOpenSecret) September 12, 2018
KYMA local news
written by Staff
Tuesday September 11, 2018
MESA, Ariz. - The Mesa Police Department arrested 24 suspects tied to child and human sex trafficking.
Mesa Police Detectives partnered with Tempe, Gilbert, Chandler Police Departments as well as the Attorney General’s Office for Operation Degrossting, an undercover operation targeting the demand for child sex crimes and human trafficking.
Over six days officers and undercover detectives placed ads on websites commonly sought out by suspects seeking illegal sex acts. The 24 suspects arrested solicited and/or brokered deals for various sex acts and were subsequently arrested.
Each year the Mesa Police Department conducts operations of this type in a continuous effort to reduce the demand that fuels child and human sex trafficking from our community. The suspects in the latest operation ranged in age from 21 to 80 years old. "Crimes involving children are of the highest priority and I appreciate our partnership with all the agencies involved in the successful removal of these dangerous child predators from our community" said Chief Ramon Batista.
The Mesa Police Department partners with organizations and survivor advocates to assist victims after being exploited or trafficked. If you have information about someone being trafficked, contact your local police department or the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888 or humantraffickinghotline.org Our partnership with the Hickey Family Foundation, Empire Southwest, and Operation Underground Railroad (OUR) was crucial to the success of this investigation. For more information about human exploitation and trafficking, please visit
(Photo: Mesa Police Dept)
AZ Central News
written by Austin Westfall, Arizona Republic
Tuesday September 11, 2018
Local law-enforcement agencies made 24 arrests during a six-day period as part of an undercover operation targeting child sex crimes.
Mesa Police Department joined with Tempe, Gilbert and Chandler police departments as well as the Attorney General’s Office to conduct the operation, Mesa police officials announced Tuesday in a news release.
"Officers and undercover detectives placed ads on websites commonly sought out by suspects seeking illegal sex acts," the release said.
Officials say the suspects, who ranged from 21 to 80 years old, were arrested after being suspected of soliciting and/or brokering deals for various sex acts.
A list of the suspects' names and charges can be viewed here.
"Crimes involving children are of the highest priority and I appreciate our partnership with all the agencies involved in the successful removal of these dangerous child predators from our community," said Ramon Batista, chief of police for the Mesa Police Department, in the news release.
Mesa Police Department said it conducts similar operations every year to reduce the demand for child and human sex trafficking in the area.
Officials urge anyone with information about someone being trafficked to contact their local police department or the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888 or humantraffickinghotline.org.
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