Intensive Investigation Of June Tip Leads To Apprehension Of Alleged Perpetrator
A brief APD online posting reported that a suspect was taken into custody at his work place in Emeryville after evidence involving “the sharing of explicit content and the maintaining of inappropriate online relations.”
The suspect’s name was withheld, part of standard police procedure for an ongoing investigation.
Thus far, their detective work has “has identified several of the users he was in communication with.,” without specifying whether those were purported victims or other perpetrators.
APD reminds parents that this incident underscores the necessity for parents to discuss with their youngsters the myriad dangers awaiting in online domains and and to “ take advantage of security and monitoring features that can help safeguard young individuals from online threats.”
‘This incident underscores the necessity for parents to discuss with their youngsters the myriad dangers awaiting in online domains.’
Summary from APD posting
APD received a tip, last June, from The Wolf Project Inc. (TWP) a non-profit organization that hosts a network of “bait” or “decoy” accounts to try and lure persons who engage in inappropriate or illegal online conversations and other interactions involving “a sexual nature,” as the TWP puts it.
At the more extreme ends, these can include “child sex trafficking, sexual abuse, and sextortion,”
TWP offers members of the public to join its cause and become what are termed “reapers” or those who create their own postings designed to realistically mimic those of other online predators or prospective victims.
“We offer our reaper network and training to educate individuals on the legal avenues of hosting decoy accounts and safety measures that should be taken while being involved with TWP,” the organization says on its website.
The group also hosts seminars that examine the online world of sex traffickers, pedophiles and others who engage in related behaviors and messaging. TWP, for example educates members of the public in matters as how often children are approached online by adults and how often adults lead a minor into having an online a sexual conversation.
ANN is seeking further comment from APD and TWP as of this time.