WHATCOM COUNTY, Wash. — A 37-year-old Ferndale man and a 25-year-old Bellingham man were among 14 suspects taken into custody in Skagit County during a multi-agency operation targeting person involved in the abuse and exploitation of children via the internet.
Fourteen individuals were taken into custody in Skagit County this weekend as part of a multi-agency operation identifying those allegedly involved in the sexual abuse and exploitation of children.
The multi-day operation involved the Washington State Patrol (WSP), local Skagit County law enforcement agencies, and several partner agencies. The Skagit County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office will review the cases to determine which potential criminal charges will be filed.
Dubbed “Child Exploitation Operation,” this is the 23rd operation spearheaded by the WSP’s Missing and Exploited Children Task Force (MECTF), an Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) affiliate. Since the first operation in August 2015, MECTF has netted a total of 348 arrests and removed numerous children from danger across the state because of police intervention.
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Click for more informationMECTF’s primary mission during the operation is to proactively target those persons involved in child abuse and child exploitation via the Internet.
Primary crimes investigated are:
- RCW 9A.44.073 – Rape of a child in the first-degree – attempt
- RCW 9A.44.076 – Rape of a child in the second degree – attempt
- RCW 9.68A.090 – Communication with a minor for immoral purposes
- RCW 9.68A.040 – Sexual Exploitation of a minor
The names of the individuals taken into custody during the operation were:
- EATON, Anthony, 35, Seattle, WA
- HARDY, Gregory, 36, Burlington, WA
- JONES, Dylan, 33, Puyallup, WA
- KAY, Christopher, 40, Sedro Wolley, WA
- LOPEZ FLORES, Domingo, 34, Lake Stevens, WA
- LUKENS, Luke, 44, Mount Vernon, WA
- MEDELLIN, Peter, 39, Sedro Wolley, WA
- MITCHELL, Cody, 37, Ferndale, WA
- NOBRIGA, Almar, 62, Everett, WA
- RAMOS, Abrahn, 31, Tulalip, WA
- ROMERO RAMOS, Ronald, 25, Bellingham, WA
- SCHALESKY, Steffon, 34, Burlington, WA
- STRAUSS, Taylor, 34, Edmonds, WA
- THOMPSON, Ruben, 50, Renton, WA
Anyone with information related to the suspects listed, or information leading to the identity of victims potentially involved in these cases, please contact METCF at mectf@wsp.wa.gov.
The collaborative effort involving more than 60 dedicated law enforcement officers, agents, and staff led to the success of this operation. Those agencies involved include:
- Anacortes Police Department
- Bellingham Police Department
- Burlington Police Department
- Federal Bureau of Investigation
- Homeland Security Investigations
- Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office
- Mount Vernon Police Department
- Oak Harbor Police Department
- Othello Police Department
- Puyallup Police Department
- Redmond Police Department
- Renton Police Department
- Seattle Police Department
- Sedro Wolley Police Department
- Skagit County Prosecutor’s Office
- Skagit County Sheriff’s Office
- Spokane Police Department
- Tacoma Police Department
- Washington State Patrol
– Washington State Patrol (November 12, 2024)
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