A Capitol Hill man was arrested on Thursday as part of a Seattle Police Department Internet Crimes Against Children Unit operation. The 40-year-old was taken into custody following a thorough investigation that involved the SPD and the Washington State Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The months of investigative work culminated when officers of the Community Response Group executed a warrant at the suspect's home and later arrested him at his place of employment, according to the SPD Blotter.
The investigation revealed that the man used various online aliases to conceal his identity. Amongst his pretended personae were an 18-year-old female, a 15-year-old female, and a 13-year-old female, through which he engaged others in messaging platforms. A disturbing aspect of the case was his explicit conversations that detailed children in a sexual context, as well as the sharing of illicit material. This included a trove of photos and videos classified as child sexual abuse material.
The SPD has announced that the suspect is now facing charges for possession and dealing in depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. After being apprehended at his workplace, he was subsequently booked into the King County Jail. Details about the messaging app used to distribute the illegal content or particulars of the individual's employment have not been disclosed.
