Authorities in Grand Traverse County arrested eight men last month, each accused of seeking sex with a minor.
The sheriff’s office revealed the operation Friday. Officers posed as underage people in online forums, but did not initiate contact with anyone. Instead, they waited to be approached, and then engaged in conversation with each of the suspects.
What they’re calling “Operation TC Safe” happened on June 8 and 9.
Those arrested range in age from 22 to 66. Four of the men are from Traverse City, with others from Charlevoix, Elk Rapids, Rapid City and Lake City. All have been arraigned on multiple felony charges.
“With the success of this, in the future we will have additional or more operations like this,” said Grand Traverse Sheriff Thomas Bensley.
This operation was modeled after work done by the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, which is helping similar efforts by a number of law enforcement agencies in 42 counties across Michigan.
“We have created something that has been packaged in a way that can benefit communities around the state and around the nation,” Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson said. “I would never withhold that, knowing there’s victims that could need, and will need a voice.”