Cleveland County Deputies Arrest 6 On Suspicion Of Trafficking

Cleveland County officials said it has arrested six people on suspicion of trafficking.

Deputies with the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office said they created a profile presenting themselves as children, luring the suspects in.

Cleveland County officials said the arrests were made within a three-day span earlier this month. This is the fourth such operation they’ve conducted this year. Detectives said they talked to suspects on a variety of online platforms before setting up an in-person meeting.

“These predators, they know where these kids are at,” said Capt. Steve Lowe with the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office. “They know which sites these kids are chatting on.”

The deputies were able to arrest six men through those meetings between Dec. 10 and 12. The suspects are being held in the Cleveland County Jail on complaints of solicitation of a minor for sexual conduct.

“Twenty-plus year individuals for most of them,” Capt. Lowe said. “Knowing they’re going to meet kids and thinking that they’re going to have a sexual act performed on them.”

The Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office said they made over 30 arrests between the four stings. 

“That’s scary for parents to imagine,” Capt. Lowe said. “We would really ask parents to make sure that they know who their kids are chatting with on these online sites.”

The county also received assistance in this operation, including from Homeland Security, the Moore Police Department and Absentee Shawnee Tribal Police. 

Lowe said they will continue these operations.

County officials said warrants are pending in this operation. Additional investigations are underway into child exploitation and child pornography matters.