Cedar Lake Police Say They Had No Involvement To Any Predator Stings
A Cedar Lake man, new to the local area, decided to take on the task of catching child sexual predators via social media. The Cedar Lake man has been posting videos of himself meeting potential predators in local grocery stores. The videos were shared around numerous local Facebook groups before being taken down.
The Cedar Lake man uses the app “Grinder” to meet adult men who are trying to meet face to face at local businesses, which who they believe to be minor teenage boys. He tells Region News he has caught three on video this week with another 6-7 waiting to meet. The Cedar Lake man told Region News, “My inspiration in doing this was from the show “To Catch A Predator” on NBC.” However RNS has been told the difference with the tv show and this mans actions is the Police Involvement.
Region News spoke with Deputy Chief Brittingham of the Cedar Lake Police, who told us, “No official law enforcement sting was setup and no agency told him to setup a fake account to lure these people anywhere.” Brittingham added, he has been told to stop and the mans actions alone are breaking laws.
At this time no other statement has been released and The Cedar Lake Police are investigating this incident.
Good way for this guy to either get killed, assaulted, or arrested trying to be a hero…….let the police do their job, and stop trying to be a hero……idiot!…..smh….
Right, because the police care so much. Unless it affects their pocket or makes them money, they usually do not care.
So sorry but something seems off about this. If the man is exposing a crime, why wouldn’t the police be trying to get involved????
This story requires us to pause and consider the possibilities. It’s well known that the police step in and take action after the crime has been committed. It’s no fault of their own as criminals do not engage in criminal conduct while in the presence of police officers. Also the best partners the police can have in crime prevention are its citizens, which is why the police always encourage the citizens to get involved. Deputy Chief Brittingham’s comment is that our Good Samaritan has been told to stop and his actions and are breaking the law. This is a perfect opportunity for the police department to get involved, along with the guidance of the lake county prosecutor, so this doesn’t become entrapment. Child sex crimes can be prevented and the offenders can be prosecuted and jailed. Not just In cedar lake, also in surrounding communities. So, let’s not call our wannabe hero and idiot.
I have to respectfully dis-agree……this is not that far off from vigilantism…..Let the Police do their job……I said ” idiot ” because this is an idiotic and potentially dangerous way to handle things……if anything he should have approached the Police, and let them know what he was doing, then….with their blessing and support do what he had to do, so as to not expose himself to the potential dangers he could have experienced, and…..gotten into trouble for…..”wanna be hero’s” can also become an inmate, or dead…….
The police in Illinois just recently pulled off a sting arresting “John’s” as prostitution customers. Now, these were guys looking for legal age women to have sex with. If they can spend taxpayer money to catch victimless “criminals”. Why can’t they go after these pedophiles? Are they worried about catching one of their own?
He knows the risk. I’m missing the part where you should care. Why you mad at him?
Steven, you obviously don’t understand what I was saying……he was doing this on his own ( good for him )…..the Police told him to STOP! His own words ” My inspiration in doing this was from the show “To Catch A Predator” on NBC.” However RNS has been told the difference with the tv show and this mans actions is the Police Involvement.
notice at the end it says ” the POLICE INVOLVEMENT”…….which he had NONE! Why is this so hard to understand?! I’m not mad at the guy, great for him, however, if something goes south, HE could end up in some serious trouble! jail, being SUED….assaulted….ect…..I applaud his efforts, just not his methods.
The criminals have more rights then anybody. The TV show that he was copying was taken off air because the sexual predators were being “set up” and entrapment is illegal. Its not right…BUT its not legal. Cedar Lake police do not need people taking it upon themselves to be the law. Does the name Bernhard Goetz ring a bell ? We all cannot be running around trying to solve crimes.