Last Tuesday, New Boston police arrested a 44-year-old Wheelersburg Man, David L. Haney, as part of a sting operation to catch child predators in the act. The operation was done as part of the Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce (ICAC).
Haney is accused of attempting to solicit an undercover officer he believed to be a 14-year-old boy.
The task force, which started in Ohio, is part of a nationwide network of 61 task forces representing 4500 federal, local, and state law enforcement agencies. ICAC was created in response to the growing number of children using technology and the growing number of predators using tech to target children.
According to Captain Robert Deerfield of the NBPD, New Boston is the first department in the county to join ICAC.
Officers receive extensive specialized training in dealing with online predators before setting up social media accounts and waiting for hits from potential predators attempting to solicit who they believe are underaged kids.
According to Captain Deerfield, “Once they solicit the kids, we’ll start conversations and see where it goes. Once they decide to meet the kid. Surprise! They’re meeting us.”
Deerfield was unable to release details about the operation involving Haney as the case is still ongoing. Haney is in custody on probation hold while his case goes to the grand jury.
This arrest was New Boston’s first case working with ICAC.
