POLK COUNTY, Fla. (WWSB/Gray News) — Florida law enforcement officials say a seven-day undercover operation resulted in 281 arrests and 488 new charges, including 198 felonies.
About the operation
The operation, dubbed “Polk Around & Find Out II,” included simultaneous investigations focused on individuals accused of traveling to meet children for illegal sexual activity and commercial sexual activity, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
“Those who came to Polk County hoping to sexually abuse a child found handcuffs,” Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said during Friday’s news conference.
Authorities said those arrested face a total of 798 criminal charges. Authorities also said 24 suspects possessed firearms and 32 people were charged with drug possession.
Theme park employees
The sheriff’s office said 17 people arrested in the operation worked at theme parks.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said Disney told investigators it had fired employees linked to the arrests.
Judd said he has not received an update from Universal regarding the employment status of its arrested workers.
Where the suspects lived
Authorities said 40 of those arrested lived in Polk County. Others came from elsewhere in Florida, from 20 other states and 18 countries.
Immigration status
The sheriff’s office said 32 people arrested during the operation were in the country illegally and 16 of them were transferred to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
An ICE official at the news conference said the agency had interviewed more than 65 foreign-born people and placed more than 30 detainers on people it had identified as eligible for removal under immigration law.
Nonprofit Outreach
One More Child, a nonprofit that worked with law enforcement during the operation, said it worked with 93 people and that 18 of them agreed to receive services. The organization said officials had identified 11 people they believed were victims of human trafficking.
“We know that accepting help takes trust, and people may be afraid, unsure or not ready to take this step,” Sine Dressler, One More Child’s senior director of anti-trafficking operations, said at the press conference.
The investigation continues
Judd said investigators are also looking into whether other children may have been victims in connection with one of those arrested, a youth football coach.
The investigation is ongoing.
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