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Public Safety

Operation Guardian Leads to 21 Arrests in Snohomish County

πŸ”Š Listen Β· narrated by Aiden

Twenty-one individuals were arrested in Snohomish County as part of a multi-agency operation targeting child exploitation, according to Washington State Patrol records.

The operation, named 'Operation Guardian,' involved the Washington State Patrol, Edmonds Police Department, and other law enforcement agencies. The Missing and Exploited Children Task Force (MECTF) spearheaded the effort, which has led to nearly 400 arrests since 2015. The Snohomish County Prosecuting Attorney's Office will determine criminal charges.

The Yakima Police Department was not involved in this operation. The operation took place in Snohomish County, not Yakima, so it does not impact Yakima residents directly.

πŸ“„ Source: WA State Patrol News β€” https://wsp.wa.gov/
Checked against the public record10 of 14 claims Β· 71%

Every factual claim below was checked against the original public record. Source: original document β†—

  • βœ“
    Twenty-one individuals were arrested in Snohomish Countyβ€œTwenty-one individuals were taken into custody in Snohomish County this week as part of a multi-agency operation identifying those allegedly involved in the sexual abuse and exploitation of children.”
  • βœ“
    The arrests were part of a multi-agency operation targeting child exploitationβ€œTwenty-one individuals were taken into custody in Snohomish County this week as part of a multi-agency operation identifying those allegedly involved in the sexual abuse and exploitation of children.”
  • ⚠
    The operation was according to Washington State Patrol recordsβ€œnull”
  • βœ“
    The operation was named 'Operation Guardian'β€œDubbed β€œOperation Guardian,” this operation was spearheaded by the WSP’s Missing and Exploited Children Task Force (MECTF), a Washington State Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) affiliate.”
  • βœ“
    The Washington State Patrol was involved in the operationβ€œThe multi-day operation involved the Washington State Patrol (WSP), Edmonds Police Department, local Snohomish County law enforcement agencies, and several state and federal partner agencies.”
  • βœ“
    The Edmonds Police Department was involved in the operationβ€œTwenty-one individuals were taken into custody in Snohomish County this week as part of a multi-agency operation involving the Washington State Patrol (WSP), Edmonds Police Department, local Snohomish County law enforcement agencies, and several state and federal partner agencies.”
  • βœ“
    Other law enforcement agencies were involved in the operationβ€œThe multi-day operation involved the Washington State Patrol (WSP), Edmonds Police Department, local Snohomish County law enforcement agencies, and several state and federal partner agencies.”
  • βœ“
    The Missing and Exploited Children Task Force (MECTF) spearheaded the effortβ€œDubbed β€œOperation Guardian,” this operation was spearheaded by the WSP’s Missing and Exploited Children Task Force (MECTF), a Washington State Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) affiliate.”
  • βœ“
    The effort has led to nearly 400 arrests since 2015β€œSince the first operation in August 2015, the legislatively funded MECTF has netted nearly 400 arrests and removed numerous children from danger across the state because of police intervention.”
  • βœ“
    The Snohomish County Prosecuting Attorney's Office will determine criminal chargesβ€œThe Snohomish County Prosecuting Attorney's Office will review the cases to determine which potential criminal charges will be filed.”
  • ⚠
    The Yakima Police Department was not involved in this operationβ€œnull”
  • βœ“
    The operation took place in Snohomish Countyβ€œTwenty-one individuals were taken into custody in Snohomish County this week as part of a multi-agency operation identifying those allegedly involved in the sexual abuse and exploitation of children.”
  • ⚠
    The operation did not take place in Yakimaβ€œnull”
  • ⚠
    The operation does not impact Yakima residents directlyβ€œnull”

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