A joint effort by local, state and federal law agencies has resulted in the arrest of 20 suspected child predators. One of the people arrested is a former high school basketball coach.
The results of the operation police called “Operation Safe Harvest” came the morning of Thursday, March 12. At least 7 law enforcement agencies joined forces to identify the suspects who used the internet to connect with what they thought were young children but were actually undercover officers. One of those under arrest is former Chiles High School Girls’ Basketball Head Coach Troy Hartmann. Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell said it’s not only law enforcement that needs to be alert to the dangers.
“There’s no way we can do this on our own. It’s going to take every member of our community. It’s going to take parents checking in on their children’s computers and phones and knowing what they’re doing, because the predators are out there. They’re online and they’re looking for our kids.”
Revell said some of the suspects were arrested in traffic stops as they were allegedly on the way to meet victims. Others were taken into custody in their homes.
