12 people were detained in Battle Ground, Clark County, over the weekend as part of a multiagency child exploitation operation, according to the Washington State Patrol.
The Missing and Exploited Children Task Force of the State Patrol conducted “Operation Battle Ground” from Friday to Monday, which included 60 officers from 20 agencies, according to a news release.
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The crimes under investigation include attempted first- and second-degree child rape, communication with a minor for immoral purposes, and minor sexual exploitation. The Clark County Prosecutor’s Office will review the instances and decide whether to seek criminal charges.
There were no other details provided concerning the operation at this time.
These targeted operations highlight the frightening number of predators looking to abuse children,” Battle Ground Police Chief Dennis Flynn said in a statement.
Five people from Washington, six from Oregon, and one from New York were arrested, with ages ranging from 24 to 61. In Washington, these include a 40-year-old in Vancouver; a 43-year-old in Goldendale, Klickitat County; a 31-year-old in Brush Prairie, Clark County; a 57-year-old in Liberty Lake, Spokane County; and a 31-year-old in Longview, Cowlitz County.
The Seattle Times usually does not name suspects unless they have been officially charged with a crime.
“This operation is a powerful example of what we can accomplish when local, state, and federal agencies come together with a common goal: protecting our most vulnerable, State Patrol Chief John Batiste said in a statement.
