Twenty-two people were arrested and charged after allegedly planning to pay for sex acts with a child, Blaine police said Friday.
According to officials, the arrests were made during a two-day “juvenile suppression operation” on September 3 and 4 near Lexington Avenue and Main Street.
Officers posed as an underage female and sent text messages to over 460 people. Police said that during the operation, 22 people went to a “designated meeting location” with the intention of paying for sex acts with a child.
According to officials, all 22 have been arrested and charged with soliciting a child to engage in sexual conduct. Each person was released after being booked and given a future court date.
“This operation demonstrates our unwavering commitment to protecting children from exploitation,” Blaine Police Department Deputy Chief Joe Gerhard said in a written statement. “We are grateful for the collaboration of our partner agencies, whose teamwork was essential to the success of this effort.”
The operation was supported by police from Bloomington, Coon Rapids, and Fridley, as well as the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Anoka County Central Communications, the Anoka-Hennepin Narcotics and Violent Crimes Task Force, and the Anoka County Attorney’s Office.
